NEW DELHI (01/07/22): On the occasion of Doctor’s Day, the Indian Medical Association HQ had organized the Doctor’s Day Award Ceremony, 2022. At the event, the Ten News Network had the great pleasure of interacting with the immediate past national president of Indian Medical Association, Dr. J A Jayalal, in response to a question relating Union Minister and MoS Health did not attend the function despite prior approval.
“Doctor’s Day is the most prestigious day because it is honored in the name of Dr. B. C. Roy, who had served for 14 years as the Chief Minister in the country and served in almost all positions, and because of his philanthropic services, this day is recognized at the Doctor’s Day,” Dr. Jayalal explained the meaning behind this auspicious day.
“Normally Teacher’s Day will not be celebrated by Teachers. It’s the students who will celebrate the teacher day. Doctor’s Day, unfortunately doctors are organizing,” Dr. J A Jayalal said regarding the absence of both the Ministers at the award ceremony. “In the last function, the Honorable Prime Minister addressed to us at the Doctor’s Day, but this time two honorable ministers had accepted to be with us, maybe they had some busy schedule, but at least they should have sent some other minister, or they should have sent the Health Secretary to address, because this is one the most privileged day,” he explained dispiritedly.
Dr. J A Jayalal talked about the selfless dedicated services of doctors for people’s lives and to the country in every nook and corner of the country, “When India got independence, in 1947, the life expectancy of a person was only 35 years,” Dr. Jayalal continued. “But today it has become 70. In 1947, if 1000 children are born, 250 children couldn’t see their birth parent, the infant mortality rate was 250. But today, it is less than 20,” he said. “So, those doctors need to be respected, they have to be patted on the back,” he said.
“The same experience we had in Covid, more than 2000 doctors died,” he continued. “The Indian Medical Association submitted the entire details of the doctors. But so far, the insurance and the benefits have not reached the doctors who have sacrificed their lives for the Covid care,” he said. “Millions of people were saved,” he said. “We want them (the doctors) to be recognized as martyrs first, then at least the financial care,” he said. “So, these are some of the issues we have with the government, but at the same time we respect the government for all the good things that they are doing for the society, but it is a distress for us on this Doctor’s Day,” he said.
“If there is a will, there is a way,” Dr. Jayalal said addressing these issues. “One of the issues is the safety of the doctors. 23 states have enacted a bill regarding the safety of the healthcare professionals. But instead of the bill, we want a central act to be enacted, so that with an IPC and CRPC code, it will be more beneficial to safeguard the doctors safety ,” he said and stated that the government is yet to take a decision on this bill.
“We thought that we had the Medical Council of India, and now we have the National Medical Council, and the various other forms,” Dr. Jayalal further stated. “When a doctor is making a mistake, some punishment can be given to them,” he said. “We ask the government to take us away from the CPA and put a medical tribunal for us. The government said yes, they assured us in the government, the bill was also passed, but they are not giving the clearance, doctors are still coming under the CPA,” he said.
Dr. Jayalal hopes that the government would look into these issues so that the medical system could work better. “We are always there to work with the government. We are always there to go with the government policies. But we are also human beings, we also want some kind of recognition, some patting on our back, some support, some handholding,” he hoped. “And if it is there, then we could definitely go forward and do much more work.”
