SPEECH BY HER EXCELLENCY THE PRESIDENT OF INDIA, SHRIMATI PRATIBHA DEVISINGH PATIL, AT THE INAUGURATION OF BUILDING OF THE DR. D.Y. PATIL MEDICAL COLLEGE AT NAVI MUMBAI

Mumbai, 8th July 2008

It is indeed a pleasure to inaugurate the Dr. D.Y. Patil Medical College building and to have an opportunity to speak to students.

Today, there are 271 medical colleges all over the country out of which about 31,000 medical graduates pass out every year. But this number remains inadequate in terms of doctor to patient ratio, which is extremely low as compared to global standards, especially so in rural India. We have half a doctor for 1000 people as compared with 2.3 per 1,000 in the United States. We, therefore, need many more doctors and many more institutions.

I am told that the demand for medical education is so high that Indian students, are attending medical schools in Russia and more recently, in China in sizeable numbers. While increasing medical schools in India, we cannot compromise on quality. The growth of the institutions has to be regulated in a manner that the best of education is available to the medical students. Hence, the parameters of establishing institutions must be clearly defined. In this context, dialogue between the Medical Council of India and medical educators is necessary to update regulations to enable better and accountable functioning of institutions.

Our medical system must keep pace with advances in bio-medical sciences and incorporate reliable, newer and most sophisticated diagnostic and therapeutic technologies. The curriculum for the medical colleges should constantly be reviewed to take into account these changes. We must encourage research in institutions of higher learning. Fields such as nanotechnology, stem cells and artificial intelligence hold great potential for liberating human suffering. It is also important that healthcare professionals continue to maintain and develop their knowledge and skills.

The education system in our country needs to be designed in a manner that it not only produces capable doctors but also sensitizes them to national efforts to provide healthcare to all. A very important aspect of medical education is the internship phase. It is in this period when theoretical knowledge is put into practice and students are made aware of the needs of community health. I would encourage medical institutions to look at the possibility of sending medical students to villages for training. They can also help in the creation of health workers in the villages by giving them training on basic medical skills and first aid treatment. I understand that the Indian Medical Association has adopted about six hundred villages under its "Aao Gaon Chalen" project. I would call on all medical institutions and doctors to see how they can serve the rural communities. The reason I strongly emphasise on this aspect is that 75 percent of our medical facilities are located in urban centres. For the 70 percent of our population living in villages the medical facilities are limited and often located some distance away. To address this, the Government of India has schemes like the National Rural Health Mission. Its success depends upon the willingness of the health professionals to contribute to this endeavour.

I am aware that some of our Indian doctors who are working overseas have made tremendous contributions by providing health care to the countries in which they live and practice. Our medical institutions have a good reputation globally so much so that India is being looked upon as a destination for medical tourism. These are laudable achievements.

To keep high standards doctors should look at following the highest standards of ethics. It must never be forgotten that a doctor's profession is service of humanity and acts which demonstrate that commitment earn respect for the profession. For a doctor, a sense of compassion is as important as professional and technical skills.

Swami Vivekananda described education as that by which character is formed, strength of mind is increased, the intellect is expanded and by which one can stand on one's own feet. These ideals should guide all involved in formulating educational policies and in imparting education. In a globalised and a competitive world, the educational system should equip students with world class knowledge and skills to sustain growth and manage technological revolutions in sectors as diverse as agriculture, communication, transport and energy among others. However, education must at the same time imbibe in the students the values of humanism, tolerance, harmony and truth. It is an educated and enlightened people, confident about their future and proud of their heritage, who can build a progressive nation.

In the 21st century, India is uniquely positioned to take the lead in today's global dynamics, with its large youth population of 540 million. We have a responsibility to provide them educational facilities. In this, the private sector can supplement the efforts of the Government. Here, I would like to recognize the valuable contribution of Dr.D.Y. Patil to the cause of higher education. In a short span of 25 years, he has been successful in establishing a network of institutions in the fields of medicine, management studies, hospitality and tourism. The motto of Padmashree Dr. D.Y. Patil University - Dnyanadheenam Jagat Sarvam - should motivate it to strive to be a centre of educational excellence and carry on the well established tradition of medical science and research.

I have no doubt that our doctor community has the capacity to serve the nation. Healthcare professionals form the backbone of the medical system in the country and having enough number of skilled medical personnel is essential for making affordable medical facilities available to all.

On 1st July every year is celebrated in India as Doctors' Day to commemorate the work of Dr. B.C. Roy whose life is a source of inspiration. He was a doyen of medicine who was instrumental in establishing the Medical Council of India. Dr. Roy was also a freedom fighter who was the Chief Minister of West Bengal from Independence till 1962, the year he died. So strong was his commitment to serve humanity that even as a busy Chief Minister, he set aside one hour every day to provide medical help, free of cost to poor patients. His life contains a lesson for young doctors that they should not forget to selflessly serve those who cannot afford medical treatment. To all medical students and young doctors present here today, I ask each one of you to work hard and achieve success but also spend some time in attending to the disadvantaged and vulnerable sections of society. I am told that Dr. D.Y. Patil University has been conducting several healthcare camps in urban and rural areas and rendering treatment free of cost to the economically weaker sections of society. In the end, I would call on all present here to work for creating a society that is equitable, progressive and the one which promotes excellence in human endeavour. I would also encourage you to look at providing medical attention for old people and palliative care for the terminal patients, including by involving local communities.

I also wish success to Dr. D.Y. Patil Medical College.

Thank You.

Jai Hind.

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