37^th Convocation

16^th November 2009

All India Institute of Medical Sciences

Speech of Honorable Minister for MoHFW, GOI

As president of this pioneer institute,I feel highly privileged, to welcome Her Excellency the President of the Republic of India, on the occasion of the 37th Convocation of All India Institute of Medical Sciences.

I am deeply obliged, that Her Excellency very kindly consented to spare her valuable time for this occasion. I am sure, that the distinguished faculty members, doctors, students, professionals and my colleagues from the Ministry, would be feeling proud to be part of this 37th convocation. 

This is a moment of joy for the faculty, staff and the students and their parents, that the hard work, sincerity and commitment, has made this moment possible.

I heartily congratulate the recipients of degrees and awards and wish you the very best for your future endeavor.

This success completes one phase of your lives, your liberties of being students are over, and now it is time for you to tighten the belts again, as you would be venturing into the noble profession of medicine.

From now onwards, you will be dealing with most precious creation of God and will have to be at your best, both professionally and as human beings.

This is a huge responsibility.

With this note of advice, I wish you all the success in life, be it your professional life as doctors, researchers or academicians.

I also take this opportunity, to remember the founders, and our predecessors who have contributed to the growth of this Institute.

The Institute has grown over the years and has maintained its enviable position in all the three facets, provision of medical care to patients, research and medical education.  

The institute has undertaken around 550 research projects during the year 2008-09.  During the same year, more than two million patients have been served at outpatient departments.

The ever increasing number of patients shows the unflinching faith, that general public coming from across the country has, in the capacities and capabilities of doctors of this Institute.

It is also a matter of great satisfaction, that the faculty, doctors, technical and   non-technical staff, work day in and day out, to take on this heavy patient load and earn the goodwill for the Institute and win the hearts of the patients.

In view of the availability of the best of the medical facilities, patients turn to AIIMS, as a result of which, there is a heavy load which the AIIMS has to cope with. 

More than 60 to 70% of the patients taking treatment at the AIIMS, are coming from the hinterland of Orissa,  U. P., Uttranchal, Bihar, Jharkhand Rajasthan and Haryana.  Majority of them are seeking treatment as the super speciality facilities are not available within their reach. 

Your Excellency the President of India

I must admit that the objective for which AIIMS was set-up, is getting diluted, due to heavy load of patients. The research and innovations are taking the backseat. 

Therefore, there is an urgent need to decongest this premier institute. 

In order to release the pressure, on AIIMS and other institutions, the Govt. of India has decided, firstly to establish 8 AIIMS like institutes in different regions of the country under the PMSSY. 

The establishment of these institutions will provide an opportunity to AIIMS to assume the ever important and critical role of Apex Referral Centre, the role that was originally envisaged for it.

Secondly, 19 existing government medical colleges across the country are being upgraded to have speciality and super-speciality facilities.   

Once completed, I would expect AIIMS, to play the role of mentor for these new institutes and be the role model for them.

Under the leadership of P.M. Dr. Manmohan Singh, the Govt. of India launched the NRHM which aims at providing affordable, accountable and accessible health care services, in the remotest corners of the country. 

NRHM funds are being provided for upgrading existing facilities at sub-centres, Primary Health Centres, Sub-Division and at district level hospitals. 

The strengthening of infrastructure at these institutions and upgradation of 19 medical colleges and AIIMS like institutions are at various stages of completion.

Madam President, I am confident, that  in a period of 2-3 years the health infrastructure at all levels will be ready for providing quality health care. 
 

You all will appreciate, that the strong infrastructure requires availability of huge health manpower, including doctors, specialists, super-specialists, nursing and para-medical staff.

It is in this backdrop that during the    last 3-4 months, my ministry in consultation with the Medical Council of India has taken several path breaking initiatives to pave the way for increase of doctors and specialists in the country.   

A)          Measures for betterment of undergraduate education 

1.           The Public Private Partnership model of utilising public sector hospitals is prescribed for North Eastern states, hilly states and in those states where the number of medical colleges are less than one medical college for per 50 lakhs population.

2.           To encourage more entrepreneurs for opening of medical colleges, Companies are now allowed to open the medical colleges.

3.           In order to facilitate establishment of new medical colleges, the requirement of single plot of 25 acres of land has been reduced to 20 acres.             

B)          Measures taken to encourage doctors to go to rural and difficult areas 

1.           50% of the seats in the postgraduate diploma courses are reserved for medical officers in Govt. service who has served at least 3 years in remote and difficult areas.

2.           Weightage in entrance examination, marks for postgraduate courses being conducted at All India level at 10%  each year service in remote and difficult areas subject to a maximum of 30% has also been prescribed. 

C)          Measures for improvement of postgraduate education 

1.           To overcome the acute shortage of specialists the availability of seats in various postgraduate courses has been increased by allowing a higher teacher student ratio in the case of a Professor from 1:1 to 1:2. 

This increase is being permitted in the Govt. medical colleges which would allow increase of nearly 4000 seats in the current academic year and about 7000 seats in the next 2 years.   

2.           Newer concepts and specialities like Emergency Medicine, Infectious Diseases etc. have also been introduced in the postgraduate curriculum. 

D)          Measures to increase availability of teachers

1.           The teaching experience required for the post of Professor and Assoc. Professor has been reduced by one year in the respective feeder cadre so as to increase the availability of the teaching faculty which will reduce overall shortages of teachers in the medical colleges.   

2.           In addition to the above degrees and teaching experience gained by Doctors of Indian origin from five English speaking countries, UK, USA, Canada, Australia and New Zealand have been recognized. 

Besides these landmark initiatives, to have more doctors and specialists, my ministry  has formulated a scheme for augmenting nursing personnel by setting up of 270 new Auxiliary Nurse Midwife and General Nurse Midwife Schools across the country particularly in backward and un-served districts.

This scheme will add a capacity for training of 22,000 nurses annually and help to bridge the regional imbalances in the availability of nurses.

Your Excellency, Ladies and Gentlemen

          Coming back to AIIMS, I can recount, a number of new facilities that have been added in the recent times.

It now has a fully functional Apex Trauma Centre for the National Capital Region and a full-fledged Dental Research Centre with state of the art equipments.

The Cancer Centre has also been upgraded  with  PET scan facility for patients.

A number of other patient friendly services have also been added.

          This is the beginning of our grand plans for redeveloping and modernizing AIIMS,  to make it comparable with some of the best institutions in the world.

These short-term and long term measures, will decongest the present campus, provide enhanced infrastructure, for teaching and research and wholesome environment for patients.

Ladies and Gentlemen

I feel very proud, when I say that this Institute has produced some world renowned professionals, occupying       top-notch positions and serving mankind across the globe.

I am sure, the students now being conferred degrees, in this 37th Convocation, would carry forward this legacy of their predecessors and make their own name, in the field of medical sciences and make the institute proud.

Before I close, I would once again, like to thank Her Excellency the President of India for blessing the institute and the students on this momentous occasion.

I also congratulate the Director, Dean, Faculty Members, Doctors, Senior and Junior Residents, Students and staff on this occasion.

Thank you.

Jai Hind