SPEECH BY HER EXCELLENCY THE PRESIDENT OF INDIA, SHRIMATI PRATIBHA DEVISINGH PATIL, AT THE CONCLUDING FUNCTION OF THE PLATINUM JUBILEE CELEBRATIONS OF THE MEDICAL COUNCIL OF INDIA

New Delhi, 1st March, 2009

Ladies and Gentlemen,

It gives me pleasure to be here on the occasion of the concluding function of the Platinum Jubilee Celebrations of the Medical Council of India. I congratulate the Council on completing 75 years of work.

For any country, the welfare of its citizens is of the utmost importance. Providing healthcare is fundamental for their well being and, indeed, for the progress of the country, since healthy individuals can contribute more productively to the nation. Meeting the health needs of our population requires a comprehensive and sustained approach. The Council was created with the dual role of maintaining the Indian Medical Register and of monitoring the standards of medical education in the country. The responsibility of the Medical Council of India is, thus, very important and it must be discharged with utmost diligence, so that the model of high quality medical education in the country is achieved, which can cater to building a healthcare system that is accessible, affordable and effective.

We have achieved some successes in improving health parameters since our independence, such as increase in life expectancy and eradication of some endemic diseases. However, it is work in progress. We have 271 medical colleges throughout the country out of which about 31,000 medical graduates pass out every year. According to estimates by the Planning Commission, India is short of 6 lakh doctors and 10 lakh nurses. This has led to a doctor to patient ratio of about one is to ten thousand. Such low ratios also do not make medical care affordable. The shortage is more pronounced in our rural communities as the majority of the doctors live and practice in cities. There must be deliberation on why this is happening and what could be the solutions.

We need many more doctors and many more medical institutions. Augmentation of medical institutions in the country is one of the important first steps to overcome shortages. The 11th Five Year Plan, therefore, aims to establish 60 medical colleges and 225 new nursing and other colleges in deficit states.

However, quantity on its own will not be enough. A quality based model of medical education with appropriately inbuilt checks and balances will be able to generate a trained health manpower that can operate an effective and efficient healthcare delivery system. The rapidity of scientific and technological advances makes it necessary for the Medical Council of India to undertake regular reviews which ensure that curriculum is continuously updated. Our medical fraternity must constantly be on the vigil to face new challenges and keep pace with the advances taking place in medical science. Research into emerging diseases is one of the best ways in which we can be ever ready to take preventive measures against diseases and epidemics. The Council should also review from time to time, all aspects of medical education to provide for better and safer medical practice. This necessitates enforcement of the highest standards of medical education in various medical institutions in the country, so that graduates from these institutes adhere to a strict code of ethics in their practice. Our ancient scriptures always recognized the importance of medical science. The Sanskrit treatise, the "Ashtangasangraha" of Vag Bhat says: -

Which means:-

Medical science is like a light which gives much wisdom and deep insight.

I have quoted from an ancient text, and it reminds us of the Indian systems of medicine which are a part of our heritage and should be protected. The Ministry of Health is working on laying down pharmacopoeial standards for ayurvedic medicines. While encouraging this, I would also call on the Medical Council to see how a course of traditional Indian medicines can be introduced in Medical curricula.

An efficient healthcare delivery system has to ensure that its benefits are available to all sections of society. Our medical education system should not only produce capable doctors, but also sensitize them to the national efforts to provide healthcare to all. A very important aspect of medical education is the internship phase. I have always emphasized on sending medical interns to our villages as part of their training. This would make them aware of the needs in rural areas and hopefully motivate them to work there, once they see the need for their services in those areas. The medical profession is a noble profession. The satisfaction of seeing a patient improving far outweighs the value of money that can be earned. A ground level contribution could be in terms of training health workers who can attend to basic medical needs. Facilities of telemedicine can be made available in rural areas.

In fact, the advent of Information and Communication Technology and the resultant highways for flow of information along with, can make this a reality. The Council should harness Information and Communication Technology in its workings, so that the citizens can benefit. For example, the Indian Medical Register can be useful in informing a patient whether the doctor being consulted holds recognized medical qualifications or is registered with the Council. This database should be regularly updated and made user friendly. People should be made aware of it, so that they can guard against being exploited by "quacks".

With the advent of globalization, geographical boundaries are withering away and the planet is becoming increasingly interconnected, changing the contours of medical education and offering new opportunities like medical tourism. In these changed circumstances, the role and responsibility of the Medical Council of India increases to ensure that the training of our students does not fall short when compared with global standards.

Many Indian students go abroad for their medical studies spending huge amounts. However, upon return to India, they find that their qualifications do not have recognition and they cannot find jobs in medical institutions. This waste of time and money can lead to immense frustration. The Indian Medical Council can think of proactively guiding such students who are considering pursuing medical studies abroad by opening special windows where they can be informed on matters like equivalence of foreign degrees.

Platinum Jubilees are important milestones when one can pause to reflect on the distance covered and what remains to be traversed. As it enters the next phase of its existence, the Council will need to work vigilantly so that it can respond to challenges with agility.

I hope and trust that the legacy of the Medical Council of India, which goes back to the days of your first President, Dr. B.C. Roy, who symbolized the commitment of the medical profession of being a friend of the people, will be carried forward in the years ahead.

I wish all members and office bearers of the Council my best wishes, and am confident that they shall be able to carry out their responsibilities in a manner that would help spread quality healthcare to all.

Thank you.

Jai Hind