JP stresses on improved doctor-patient ratio

Vijayawada: Lok Satta president Dr Jayaprakash Narayan has stressed on the need to increase the number of seats in medical colleges so that the doctor-patient ratio can be improved. He participated as the chief guest in the platinum jubilee celebrations of the Indian Medical Association (IMA) Vijayawada branch on Sunday. Addressing the doctors gathered on the occasion, he said that betterment of medical and clinical facilities would help in the fast development of country. There was an urgent necessity for increased number of doctors to keep our society healthy, he said. He lauded the IMA Vijayawada branch for carving a niche for itself by extending its help to the needy. Local MP Lagadapati Rajagopal said that doctors were saviours and admired as gods in Indian society. Medicine was a noble and sacred profession. Doctors of India have a special identity around the world for their dedication and hard work. Medical studies and research involve heavy expenditure and government was spending huge amount to meet the same. People of Vijayawada used to rush to distant places like Hyderabad and Chennai for better treatment. Now super specialty treatments are available in the city. He attributed this development to the hard work and efforts of the IMA. It was appreciable that the IMA had extended its support for the heart operations of kids in association with State government, he said. IMA Vijayawada branch president Dr P V Ramana Murthy said that support of government and senior doctors was crucial for the success of IMA. Many social service camps and free medical camps were being conducted by the IMA across the city to mark the platinum jubilee, he said. Platinum jubilee organizing committee chairman Dr K Pattabhi Ramaiah, IMA Vijayawada branch secretary Dr V Sri Devi, former IMA president Dr G Samaram, national coordinator Dr N Appa Rao and others were present.