New Delhi, December 28
Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation, Amit Shah, addressed the national conference IMA NATCON 2025 organized by the Indian Medical Association (IMA) in Ahmedabad, Gujarat today. On this occasion, several dignitaries were present, including the Chief Minister of Gujarat, Bhupendra Patel.
Shah said that when any institution completes 100 years, it leaves behind a very long and significant history. A centenary year is also extremely important for addressing the challenges faced by any institution. He said that the achievements attained through the IMA in serving the people in the country’s health sector should be highlighted over the course of a year and taken to every section of society, as this is the best way to instill the spirit of service, sense of duty, and accomplishments in the public consciousness. “At the same time, this is also the right moment to keep pace with the times by adapting to the changes that have taken place in this field, from Registered Medical Practitioners (RMPs) to specialization”, he added.
Shah said that the health sector is essentially a field of service. “When a person who is seriously ill goes to a doctor, he sees God in the very doctor who treats him. He said that the dimensions and scope of ethics framed 100 years ago have now become irrelevant. On the completion of 100 years, there is now a need to reconsider the dimensions of ethical values in the health sector”, he said, while urging the representatives of the IMA to constitute a team to redefine the ethics of this field and align them with present-day requirements.
Shah said that merely acquiring a medical education does not make one a successful doctor; rather, all the dimensions of ethics in this field should also be an integral part of medical education, and this responsibility lies with the IMA. He said that ethics cannot be imposed, nor can they be enforced through any law, because this is a moral subject. Union Home Minister said that if the IMA redefines all the dimensions of ethics and suggests to the Government of India that they be made a part of the medical curriculum, it will lead to an increase in the number of doctors in the coming days who regard service as a sacred duty, which is greatly needed today. He added that if this is achieved, the respect and trust that have been built in the minds of the public due to a century of dedicated service will endure for many centuries to come.
Shah said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has placed before all citizens the resolve to build a Viksit Bharat, so that when the country celebrates 100 years of its independence in 2047, there should not be a single sector in which India does not rank first in the world. He said that to achieve this goal, it is necessary to create a healthy demographic of every kind—whether mental or physical, or in terms of energy and enthusiasm—and doctors will have a very important role to play in this effort. He said, the Modi government is committed to build a strong health ecosystem in a Viksit Bharat, and doctors will play a decisive role in this. He said that with this objective, a major health ecosystem has been developed with a holistic approach during the period from 2014 to 2025. Shah stated that the first step in this direction was the launch of the Swachhata Mission to construct toilets in every household. He said that this campaign has a deep connection with health, as cleanliness in cities, villages, and towns helps prevent the spread of many diseases. He further said that the government subsequently launched the Fit India MovementandKhelo India, and began celebrating International Yoga Day. As a result, the number of people who have made yoga a part of their lives has increased by 40 percent.
Shah said that the Ayushman Bharat Mission, which is directly linked to the health sector, is being implemented under which free treatment of up to ₹5 lakh has been provided to the poor across India, and due to additional schemes of some states, free treatment of up to ₹15 lakh is being provided in about 70 percent of the country. He said that the Ayushman Bharat Mission has brought about a qualitative transformation in India’s health sector. Through Mission Indradhanush, the Government of India launched an immunization campaign that has helped protect children from various diseases from their early years. He said that ₹1.65 lakh crore has been invested in strengthening the infrastructure of Community Health Centres (CHCs) and Primary Health Centres (PHCs). A large network of affordable generic medicines was also launched, and insurance was made cheaper by removing GST.He said that the number of medical seats has increased from 51 thousand to 1 lakh 30 thousand meaning that a very large number of doctors are now being trained every year.
Union Home Minister asked whether the IMA could devise a scheme to promote doctors engaged in research and submit it to the Government of India. He also asked whether the IMA could take steps to make maximum use of the services of existing doctors through video conferencing and telemedicine. He said that the role of the IMA should be to further strengthen and make the country’s health infrastructure more robust and resilient.
