The Hon’ble President of India, Smt. Droupadi Murmu addressed the 10th Convocation Ceremony of Atal Bihari Vajpayee Institute of Medical Sciences (ABVIMS) in the presence of Shri J P Nadda, Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare and Dr V K Paul, Member (Health), NITI Aayog, here today.

Addressing the participants, the President of India said, “Two honorable and great men have been associated with this hospital and institution: Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia and Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee. For both of them, the nation came first. They gave new dimensions to our society and country. I believe and hope that the people associated with this institution and hospital will follow the same direction and their footprints.”

The President said that doctors provide the healing touch to ailing humanity and only they can make a difference between life and death. “You have taken on a big responsibility. In our country, doctors are treated as gods because they take care of people's health. Please remember there should be a healing touch with the medicines you prescribe", she stated.

Drawing the attention to cases of violence against doctors and other health functionaries, the President also highlighted the need of patients and patient caregivers to remain calm during difficult times stating that no doctor wants their patients to suffer. She said that “during the COVID pandemic, doctors and nurses performed their duties with dedication to save lives, and as a country, we will always be grateful to them.”

The President urged the medical fraternity and related institutions to prioritize women's health. She highlighted that the Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana has assisted women in accessing healthcare services. She also noted the achievements in the healthcare sector during the last 10 years. She said, “the number of medical institutions has increased, and the number of PG seats has doubled. New AIIMS have been established, and undergraduate courses have been introduced in these institutions.”

The President also presented the degrees to students of ABVIMS, including 36 Super Specialty students.

Speaking on the occasion, Shri J P Nadda congratulated all the students and emphasized that ensuring the highest standards of medical education is a top priority for the government. “The students and scholars present here are our Human Resource capital for building a better future,” he stated.

The Union Health Minister highlighted that professional education is a privilege that only a few are fortunate to receive, noting that “Government spends about 30-35 lakh rupees per medical student per year for providing such professional education.” He encouraged the students to efficiently apply their talent, skills and knowledge towards improving the healthcare system in the country. He said, “situation of doctors in India is entirely different from those of the western countries. The huge footfall at hospitals in India is not comparable with most of the countries across the globe. Not many can understand and comprehend the kind of patient care, research and innovations our doctors are involved in.”

He concluded his address by motivating the students to serve humanity with an open heart. “You are now guardians and saviours not only of human life but also of a noble profession”, he said.

Shri J P Nadda also released the first edition of ABVIMS journal, “Sanhita” during the occasion and presented the first copy to the Hon’ble President of India.

Dr V K Paul reiterated the advice of the Hon’ble President regarding responsibilities of Medical professionals, highlighting excellence, values and empathy as key traits to success. He also encouraged the students to become Academicians so that they can share their knowledge and expertise to the next generation of medical professionals.

Shri Apurva Chandra, Secretary, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Ms. Punya Salila Srivastava, OSD, Ministry of Health &Family Welfare; Shri. Jaideep Kumar Mishra, Addl. Secy & Financial Advisor, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare; Dr (Prof.) Ajay Shukla, Director, ABVIMS; senior officers of the Union Government; faculty members, students and staff of ABVIMS were also present on the occasion.

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