Prompting introspection and valuable insights for further improvement, Union Health and Family Minister Mansukh Mandaviya spearheaded lively discussions at the 1st Sushruta Awards organised by ITV Network – an event to honour ‘warriors of the Covid era’ and ‘Sevadharis of Ayushman Bharat’ who have been playing critical roles in healthcare delivery and key government schemes.
The health minister praised the vision of the Prime Minister Narendra Modi and lauded his proactive approach to health, underscoring the magnitude of change ushered in for the benefit of all enhancing the accessibility and availability of healthcare services.
Modi ji does not believe in “tokenism but totalism” and for making health services affordable and expanding the base of primary health services by opening 1.6 lakh Ayushman Arogya Mandir.
While giving away the Sushruta Awards, the minister called upon all awardees to continue serving the country in the best of their capacity. He also called upon them to take pride in the legacy of Charak and Sushruta and said there is no shortage of brain power and man power in India.
Mandaviya said that in 2014 there were 54,000 MBBS seats which have now increased to 1,06,000. Similarly, PG seats have increased from 31,185 to 70,674. The government’s goal is to make both UG and PG seats equal and to increase the availability of doctors in the country. The number of medical colleges has also double during this period.
A helpline was also launched by ITV Foundation for spreading information and helping those whose loved ones parish in hospitals and to whom the hospitals refuse to release the bodies of their loved ones for various reasons, including those for non-payment of bills.
In his vote of thanks, Rajya Sabha MP and ITV Network founder Kartikeya Sharma said, “As we gather here today, it is an honour to be able to discuss some of the health sector issues. It is fitting to pay homage to Sushruta, the father of surgery, whose ancient text, Sushruta Samhita, stands as a testament to the rich heritage of Indian medicine and surgery.”
Sushruta’s teachings have transcended time, guiding generations of healers with his profound wisdom and innovative surgical techniques. His holistic approach to healthcare, encompassing both physical and spiritual well-being, continues to inspire medical practitioners worldwide. The awards have been named in his honour and a tribute to his pioneering contribution to the field of healthcare, he said.
Sharma also congratulated the government and the ministry of health and family welfare for their approach towards tackling the challenges in the health sector.
Minister of state for health and family welfare Bharati Pawar earlier said that offering affordable healthcare has become the norm under the Modi government, and for this, nearly 10,000 Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Kendras (PMBJK) have been opened.
She also said that the Aayush Ministry has been carved out of the health ministry and a separate budget has been allocated to promote research in traditional medicine therapies. She also said that the government is focused on inclusive growth and is working at the healthcare’s primary, secondary, and tertiary levels.
M. Srinivas, director, AIIMS, shared the institute’s vision of expanding the base of Janaushadhi centres and how it is working with underprivileged patients by integrating with PM-JAY. “The upcoming AIIMS would soon attain the international standards and share the patient load of AIIMS-Delhi. These institutes would also excel in academics and research.”
Calling upon people to pledge organ donation in large numbers, National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisation’s director Anil Kumar said PM Modi has said on several occasions that one donor can save up to eight lives.
“The level of deceased donations in our country is much less than the demand for organ transplants,” said Kumar, adding that for the first time the number of donors crossed the 1,000-mark to touch 1,061 last year which paved the way for 16,941 transplants. “There is a demand for 2 lakh kidney transplants but only 12,343 could be undertaken due to shortage of donors,” said Kumar.
Apart for honouring doctors with Sushruta awards for their selfless service and giving awards to Asha worker, the event also saw discussion sessions involving operators of Janaushadhi Centres.