Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, Smt. Anupriya Patel addressed the 2nd Convocation Ceremony of All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Mangalagiri, today, in the presence of Shri Nara Lokesh, Minister for Information Technology, Electronics, Communications, and Human Resources, Andhra Pradesh.

Addressing the gathering, Smt. Patel congratulated the graduating students on reaching a significant milestone in their academic and professional journey. She described the occasion as a defining moment, marking the completion of formal education while reaffirming that learning in the medical profession must continue throughout life. “Medicine is a constantly evolving field. This convocation does not mark the end of learning, but the beginning of a lifelong journey of continuous growth, discovery, and service to humanity,” she added.

Emphasizing the social responsibility of doctors, Smt. Patel stated, “When you enter this noble profession, you carry not only your personal ambitions, but also the hopes and aspirations of millions of citizens. Society places immense trust in doctors, and that trust must be honoured with empathy, compassion, ethical conduct, and excellence.”

She urged the graduates to always place patients at the centre of their professional decisions, irrespective of where they serve, and to remain sensitive to the needs of the most vulnerable sections of society.

 

Highlighting the transformation underway in India’s healthcare sector, Smt. Patel said, “India’s healthcare story is being redefined. Under the visionary leadership of Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, universal health coverage is no longer a distant goal but an achievable reality. Healthcare in India is transitioning from being a privilege to becoming a fundamental right.”

Smt. Patel noted that government expenditure on healthcare has witnessed a consistent rise since 2014, with a 9% increase in the latest Union Budget. She also emphasized that the National Health Policy 2017 mandates increasing public health spending to 2.5% of GDP, which has resulted in strengthened public healthcare systems and a sustained reduction in out-of-pocket expenditure for citizens.

Smt. Patel further underlined that “the government has adopted a holistic approach, investing more in public health, reducing the financial burden on families, and expanding infrastructure and human resources, to ensure that quality healthcare reaches every citizen.”

Smt. Patel highlighted several flagship initiatives including Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana, Amrit Pharmacies, the National Dialysis Programme, and other patient-centric schemes aimed at ensuring affordability and access.

Referring to Ayushman Bharat- Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY), she said, “this world’s largest health assurance scheme is providing free treatment of up to ₹5 lakh per family annually to nearly 62 crore beneficiaries, triggering a silent social revolution by eliminating financial barriers to healthcare for the poor and vulnerable.” She emphasized that PM-JAY has enabled early diagnosis and timely treatment, significantly improving health outcomes and preventing catastrophic health expenditure.

On healthcare infrastructure and medical education, she stated, “India has witnessed an unprecedented expansion in medical education and tertiary healthcare. The number of medical colleges has increased from 387 in 2014 to 818 today, undergraduate and postgraduate medical seats have been expanded, and AIIMS institutions have grown from 7 to 22, ensuring that talented youth from all backgrounds can pursue their dreams of becoming doctors.”

She added that more than 1.80 lakh Ayushman Arogya Mandirs now serve as the foundation of India’s primary healthcare system, delivering 12 essential services at the grassroots level.

Highlighting India’s leadership in integrative healthcare, Smt. Patel stated, “By converging modern medicine with traditional systems, India is pioneering an integrative healthcare model that enhances outcomes, lowers costs, and accelerates progress towards universal health coverage.”

Smt. Patel informed that dedicated integrative healthcare and AYUSH units are now operational or being established across AIIMS institutions, including AIIMS Mangalagiri.

Speaking on the role of emerging technologies, Smt. Patel underscored the growing importance of artificial intelligence in healthcare delivery. Referring to India’s hosting of the Global South Summit on Artificial Intelligence, she remarked, “Artificial intelligence is a powerful enabler that can transform disease surveillance, diagnosis, treatment, and healthcare delivery. It is an assistive force that strengthens doctors, not replaces them.”

She highlighted the successful use of AI-powered tools in India’s tuberculosis elimination programme, including handheld X-ray devices, cough-based diagnostic solutions, predictive analytics, genomic surveillance, and real-time disease outbreak monitoring.

“Our experience demonstrates that technology, when aligned with public purpose, can dramatically expand access, improve efficiency, and save lives,” she added.

Addressing the challenges of medical practice, Smt. Patel urged young doctors to care for their own physical and mental well-being, stressing that healthy caregivers are essential for delivering quality healthcare.

In her concluding remarks, she congratulated AIIMS Mangalagiri for organizing the convocation ceremony and commended the institute for launching an early-morning antenatal care initiative for pregnant women. She extended her best wishes to the graduating students, expressing confidence that they would uphold the highest ethical standards, pursue lifelong learning, and contribute meaningfully to nation-building.

Addressing graduating healthcare professionals, Shri Nara Lokesh highlighted the remarkable transformation of AIIMS Mangalagiri, from a modest facility to a 650-bed super-specialty institution offering advanced services including organ transplantation, robotic surgery, oncology, and cardiac care, with over 45 lakh diagnostic services delivered, symbolizing hope and healing for millions. Emphasizing that true growth lies beyond infrastructure, the speaker underscored trust, compassion, ethical integrity, and lifelong learning as the core pillars of medical practice. Paying tribute to the selfless service of doctors during the COVID-19 pandemic, the address reaffirmed that while technology and AI will continue to advance healthcare, empathy, humility, and the healing power of human touch remain irreplaceable. Graduates were urged to serve with dedication, uphold ethical values, embrace continuous learning, reach underserved communities, and practice medicine with dignity, discipline, and devotion.

During the convocation ceremony, degrees were conferred upon 49 MBBS graduates, 5 MD/ MS Post-Graduate students and 4 Post-Doctoral Certificate Course (PDCC) Students. A brief progress on the recent achievements of the institute was also released on the occasion.

Maj. Gen. (Dr.) Tapan Kumar Saha, President, AIIMS Mangalagiri, and Dr. Ahanthem Santa Singh, Executive Director, AIIMS Mangalagiri and senior officials of the Union Health Ministry and Andhra Pradesh government were present in the event.

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