The Indian Medical Association, Jharkhand Chapter celebrated Doctors’ Day with fervour through a video-conferencing with national president and secretary general of IMA Dr A Marthanda Pillai and Dr KK Aggarwal at Kashyap Memorial Eye Hospital, Ranchi. The discussion on doctor-patient relationship was the main highlight of the conference.“From very early time, doctors are awarded with the title of ‘Second God’. However, the recent inclusion of medical services under the Consumer Protection Act, has threatened the integrity and trust in the doctor-patient relationship,” said Dr A Marthanda Pillai and Dr KK Aggarwal in a joint statement.
The IMA also expressed its concern over the rapid increase in the cases of violence against doctors and medical institutions. It stressed on the creation of an environment which would be safe and placid for doctors to practice. So that doctors can serve the society in a better way with no fear of assault and harassment. It also emphasized that there should be a Central Act to protect doctors and the medical establishments from public outrage.“Sometimes, it may happen that we are unable to cure patients. So, we should have a sensitive approach towards the sulking family. This will strengthen the doctor- patient relationship,” said Dr Bharti Kashyap, president of Women Doctors’ Wing, IMA, Jharkhand.
Meanwhile, the issue of high maternal and infant mortality rate and inability of government to stop communicable disease was also raised by the national body. It demanded that government should formulate realistic health policy and to invest at least 2.5 per cent of GDP in health sector.The IMA demanded that the right to health should be a fundamental right. And to fulfill this purpose, the government should intensify the public healthcare delivery system and support the public health care sector which caters to 70 per cent of the healthcare. All the members of IMA were asked to take a pledge re-instating their commitment to ensure the healthcare system and uphold the highest standards of ethics. The relationship between doctor and patient should be enhanced through sensitive approach.
The IMA also directed doctors to follow practices which are in the interest of public. Doctors should invest at least one hour in a week toward promoting the idea of Swachh Bharat- Swasth and also work towards providing medical concessions to elderly. Also they should provide free heart surgeries to girl child and offer special privileges t women delivering girl child.“We will adopt villages under Aao Gaon Chalen intiative and see to it that there are proper medical facilities. We will start adolescent clinic and meditation cells which will help teenagers to have a healthy life,” said Bharti Kashyap.