"Medicine is a field of compassion": President Murmu at AIIMS Bilaspur
President Droupadi Murmu urges AIIMS Bilaspur graduates to prioritize compassion and reach remote areas during the institute's first convocation.
In a landmark moment for medical education in the region, the President of India, Droupadi Murmu, presided over the inaugural convocation of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) Bilaspur. During the ceremony, she conferred degrees upon the institute's very first graduating batch, marking a significant milestone in the institution's journey toward enhancing India's healthcare landscape.
A Legacy of Service and Compassion
Addressing the new graduates, President Murmu emphasized that the medical profession extends far beyond technical expertise. She reminded the students that their vocation is rooted in human connection, stating, "The field of medicine is not just a field of science and technology. It is actually a field of compassion and trust as well."
The President highlighted the unique responsibility held by this inaugural batch, noting that they are the architects of AIIMS Bilaspur's identity. She urged them to uphold the institution's reputation through unwavering commitment and ethical conduct, reminding them that their primary duty lies in serving humanity.
Reaching the Unreached
Given the unique geography of Himachal Pradesh, the President issued a specific call to action for the graduates and the institute. She encouraged them to focus on strengthening tertiary healthcare in remote and inaccessible areas. To bridge these gaps, she suggested several key approaches:
- Expanding the reach of telemedicine.
- Providing expert consultations to distant regions.
- Training local medical personnel.
- Leveraging modern technology to improve healthcare delivery.
Strengthening National Health Schemes
President Murmu also drew attention to the impact of the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana. She noted that the scheme has already seen over ₹2 lakh crore spent on treatments, providing a safety net of ₹5 lakh per family per year for vulnerable populations. She urged all stakeholders to ensure that information regarding these life-saving health protections reaches citizens in the most far-flung corners of the country.
She further challenged leading institutions like AIIMS to lead the way in developing basic, cost-effective healthcare solutions that can be scaled to serve the masses.
Growth in Medical Education
Union Minister for Health & Family Welfare, JP Nadda, expressed immense pride in the graduating class. He provided a broader context of the rapid expansion of medical infrastructure in India, noting significant leaps in capacity:
- The number of medical colleges in India has surged from 384 to over 800.
- Undergraduate medical seats have increased from 51,348 to approximately 1.42 lakh.
A Vision for Viksit Bharat
Himachal Pradesh Governor Kavinder Gupta also addressed the gathering, praising AIIMS Bilaspur for bringing specialized medical services closer to the tribal and remote populations of Himachal Pradesh and its neighboring states. He echoed the sentiment that these graduates are vital contributors to the vision of a Viksit Bharat (Developed India), urging them to lead with sensitivity and a spirit of service.
Concluding her address, the President exhorted the graduates to remain lifelong learners, urging them to constantly evolve alongside changing medical practices and to transform scientific research into tangible innovations that improve human lives.