IMA delegation visits and congratulates the newly elected President of India

The Association is hopeful of some positive changes in the healthcare scenario in the country under the President’s leadership

New Delhi, 22 July 2017: An IMA delegation led by its National President, DR K K Aggarwal, visited the newly elected 14^th President of India, Shri Ram Nath Kovind. The visit was aimed towards not only congratulating the President but also to take a step ahead in working together for the betterment of the medical profession. IMA has since long been actively fighting to restore the nobility and dignity of the medical profession and recently concluded the Dilli Chalo movement to voice the concerns of the fraternity at large.

Both India’s healthcare sector and the medical fraternity have many challenges to address. Not only is there a dearth of adequate doctors but the existing ones also face issues such as violence at the hands of the public. All this requires urgent consideration and by meeting the President, the IMA hoped to make a head start to address them. 

Speaking about this, Padma Shri Awardee Dr K K Aggarwal, National President Indian Medical Association (IMA) and President Heart Care Foundation of India (HCFI), Dr RN Tandon – Honorary Secretary General IMA and Dr Narender Saini, Former Secretary General IMA in a joint statement, said, “At the outset, we would like to congratulate Shri Ram Nath Kovind for assuming office as the 14^th President of India. It is indeed an honor to have a leader like him working for the welfare of the nation. Healthcare delivery in India is undergoing many changes be it in terms of prevention, diagnosis, or treatment. All entities in the healthcare sector need to work in tandem with each other to resolve the issues that our profession is facing today. The medical profession is facing one of the toughest times today. Repeated pleas and appeals by the medical fraternity have not materialized into anything except reassurances. It is in these areas that we seek the Hon’ble President’s cooperation and support.”

The last few months have seen several other initiatives by the IMA on this front such as STOP NMC Sathyagraha, two National Protest Days against violence on doctors, NO to NEXT strike in medical colleges, and the National Black Day against West Bengal Clinical Establishments Act. Other than this, 3 action committee meetings and 2 meetings of FOMA were also conducted.

Adding further, Dr Aggarwal, said, “For any movement to be successful, the leadership should fall in the right hands. And we believe that with Shri Kovind as the President, IMA’s efforts will be adequately supported. The need of the hour is collective action and decision which would do justice to this profession.”

The IMA is working towards resolving the following issues.

• Criminal prosecution of medical negligence and clerical errors
• Stringent central act against violence on doctors
• Capping the compensation in CPA on doctors
• Professional autonomy in treatment and prescriptions
• Amendments in PC PNDT, Central CEA, West Bengal CEA Acts
• No unscientific mixing of systems of medicine
• Empower MBBS graduates
• One drug - One company - One price
• Implement inter-ministerial committee recommendations in six weeks
• Single window accountability
• Single window registration of doctors and medical establishments
• No to NMC: Amend IMC act to maintain professional autonomy
• Uniform final MBBS exam instead of ‘NEXT’
• Uniform service conditions for service doctors & faculty
• Same work - Same pay - Pay parity - No to adhocism
• Fair conduction of NEET exam
• IMA member in every government health committee
• Central anti-quackery law
• Reimbursement of emergency services provided by private sector
• 25000 family medicine PG seats
• Aided hospitals and retainer ship in general practice
• Health budget of 5 % of GDP for universal health coverage