The Union minister of state for commerce and industry E M Sudarsana Natchiappan has said, “Indian doctors should not go abroad to developed nations and instead work in India for the people’s benefits. They should desist from working there and patenting drugs since this hugely increases the cost of drugs for the general public.”
The minister’s comment was witnessed by those present at the Doctor’s Day celebration held to felicitate eminent doctors organized by the Indian Medical Association in collaboration with Vasan Eye Care held recently in Chennai on the eve of Doctor’s Day. The meet was also attended by many regulars of the profession associated with the aforesaid organizations. The Union minister of state for commerce and industry was invited to grace the said event to felicitate the deserving professionals of the trade.
The event also saw the minister lauding the services of the Indian Medical Association and Vasan Eye Care especially for their dedicated work in their native land which has seen many ordinary and poor people benefitting from their services. Correspondingly he felicitated eminent doctors like Dr. K Premraj of Vasan Eye Care and Dr. Chandrasekar Rao and Dr. Subha Shree both belonging to the Indian Medical Association besides generously lauding them for their services.
The minister also stated that had extensive research had been done here in India instead of the developed nations, we could have witnessed the price of drugs being much lower than what they presently are. Not only the nation would have benefitted from such services of theirs but also the poor people of the country would have been greatly helped by the benevolent gesture of theirs.
He also added, “The union government has allocated around Rs 28,000 in its budget for the sake of medical research and education in the country. The rural health sector is being given priority due to its presently lagging state.”
The minister has urged doctors that if they want to continue practising in the rural areas instead of delivering compulsory one-year services after completing MBBS, then they should apply personally for it and write to the government regarding the matter.
During the event, the honorary state secretary of the Indian Medical Association Dr. J A Jayalal has said, “The Consumer Protection Act has made it compulsory to investigate even the minor ailments which are greatly unnecessary. We advocate the formation of medical tribunal board instead of this act. For its sake, we are putting forward our demands in front of the minister and he has assured us of looking deeply into the matter.”
The event also witnessed famous and eminent personalities like the national president of Indian Medical Association Dr. K Vijayakumar, national president of API Dr. A Muruganathan and president-elect of IMA and TNSB Dr. M Balasubramaniam speaking on the occasion.
The outcome of the meeting was largely satisfactory for the delegates present in the event. The proposals put forward and discussions held during the meet are expected to bring a better tomorrow in the field of medical excellence of the nation.