‘Indian doctors and healthcare professionals are a class apart’

‘Indian doctors and healthcare  professionals are a class apart’

Tamil Nadu Governor R.N. Ravi handing over a degree to a graduand at the convocation held on Thursday.B. Velankanni Raj

The Hindu Bureau

CHENNAI 25.10.2024 

Tamil Nadu Governor R.N. Ravi on Thursday distributed medical degrees to graduands at the 37th convocation of The Tamil Nadu Dr. M.G.R. Medical University in Chennai.

A total of 35,793 candidates, both in person and in absentia, were awarded post-doctoral, doctoral, postgraduate, and undergraduate degrees and diplomas in the medical, dental, AYUSH, nursing, pharmacy, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, and allied health science courses.

Speaking at the function, Vivek Lal, Director, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh, stressed the importance of commitment in medical practice.

“This degree is the result of a big asset that all of you have. That is the commitment. It comes before equipment. Medicine is all about committed healthcare professionals. Equipment and technology do play a part. But if you want to exploit technology, you have to be committed.”

He said Indian doctors and healthcare professionals are the best in the world. “In the United States, the second largest [health] care-givers to U.S. citizens are Indians... Our healthcare professionals and doctors are a class apart.” Because of doctors’ commitment, the country was able to bounce back from COVID-19, though India has a rudimentary infrastructure, compared with the Western countries, he added.

“In our ecosystem, our patients think of us [doctors] as Gods. Not so in the West. They think that if a doctor cures a patient, it is his duty. The relationship between a doctor and a patient is through insurance and everything ends there. In India, if a doctor cures a patient, he becomes a family member of that patient,” he said. K. Narayanasamy, Vice-Chancellor of The Tamil Nadu Dr. M.G.R. Medical University, former Vice-Chancellors, faculty members, and parents were among others present. Minister for Health and Family Welfare Ma. Subramanian, whose name was on the invitation, was not present.