IMA stands with the Government towards the betterment of Indian Healthcare- Dr Sharad Kumar Agarwal

New Delhi, 5th January 2023: Carrying forward the functioning of the Indian Medical Association (IMA), Dr Sharad Kumar Agarwal, renowned physician of Delhi/NCR has been headed over as its National President – 2022-23 in the Holy City of Prayagraj in the gracious presence of Dr Ketan Desai, Past President of World Medical Association, MCI & IMA.

In his first Press briefing, Dr. Sharad Kumar Agarwal renewed the commitments of IMA to serve its members and community at large for which IMA has always stood.

Reiterating that stand, he said that IMA stands with the Government in all their healthcare projects/ schemes whether in the eradication of epidemics or improving the overall healthcare structure of the country. For the last many decades, IMA has always worked with the Government in the elimination of polio, measles, mumps, Kala-azar, malaria, tuberculosis, anaemia and now COVID, and is continuously striving for the welfare of the Nation in terms of betterment in the Healthcare infrastructure.

In the last 2 years, members of IMA fought the menace of COVID-19 shouldering the responsibilities as the biggest Organisation of doctors of modern medicine with Govt. of India. He mournfully remembered and saluted all the martyrs of the profession including paramedics, who bravely fought in the frontline during the pandemic, lost their lives in the fight against COVID-19 and also asserted that the entire fraternity pledges to serve mankind with full intensity, round the clock.

He further emphasised various aspects to be revamped in the healthcare industry and declared his mission for his tenure which will include the creation of Indian Medical Services, an increase in the healthcare spending of 5% of GDP, exclusion of Health Services from the Consumer Protection Act and eliminate violence against doctors and also revisit the working of National Medical Commission.

Adding further, Dr. Sharad Kumar Agarwal said that the Government should take the workforce of IMA into confidence in all their plans and programmes. Our opinion should be valued for improving various healthcare parameters of the country.

IMA is ready to participate in the programmes of family welfare, improving Maternal Mortality Rate, Infant Mortality Rate, eradication of Tuberculosis and anaemia control etc.

As the number of COVID cases is steeply rising in various countries, though the surge in India is still comparatively less alarming, but as per the previous trends, the cases may erupt suddenly in our country. We expect the Govt. to frame the guidelines and educate the public about various COVID-appropriate behaviour initiatives. We do appreciate the initiatives taken by our Hon’ble Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi JI and Hon’ble Union Health Minister, Shri Mansukh Mandaviya Ji in interacting with Senior doctors of various states recently.

The suggestions given by most of the doctors were well appreciated by members and IMA assured that our 4 lakh doctors of IMA are fully prepared to help the Govt. in all eventualities. The newly approved Nasal Vaccine is a step in the right direction and we assure the Govt. that our members, in each nook and corner of the country, will support this vaccination programme.

While Mixopathy has been a talk for a while and the Government is planning to introduce Integrated medicine and treatment protocols by 2030, IMA has also urged the Government to understand the impact of Mixopathy and rethink its strategy.

IMA wants the Govt. to rethink its planning of the integration of all systems of medicine by 2030. We would like that a thorough discussion should be held on understanding the impact of Mixopathy on our masses in consultation with IMA.