President Murmu Calls for Affordable and Compassionate Healthcare at First Convocation of AIIMS Bilaspur.
Says AIIMS Bilaspur Has a Special Responsibility to Deliver Advanced Healthcare to Remote and Hilly Areas of Himachal Pradesh.
Shimla:
President of India Droupadi Murmu on Tuesday graced the first convocation of AIIMS Bilaspur, calling upon the graduating medical professionals to make service to humanity the foremost objective of their profession and emphasising the importance of affordable, accessible and compassionate healthcare.
Addressing the convocation ceremony, the President said that the medical profession is fundamentally about serving humanity. She noted that when a sick person approaches a doctor, the patient brings not only fear and uncertainty about the illness but also hope for recovery.
According to the President, doctors can provide courage and reassurance to patients through empathy and compassionate behaviour, in addition to applying their medical knowledge and professional skills. She urged the graduating doctors to combine excellence in medicine with sensitivity and compassion while discharging their responsibilities.
AIIMS Symbolises Quality Healthcare at Affordable Cost
President Murmu said that providing quality medical care at minimal cost has been one of the defining features of AIIMS institutions. For millions of people across the country, she said, AIIMS represents access to medical treatment from some of the nation’s most competent doctors.
She noted that the establishment of AIIMS institutions in different parts of the country has been aimed at expanding access to high-quality healthcare while also creating opportunities for meritorious students to receive advanced medical education and subsequently serve the nation.
The President said that AIIMS Bilaspur carries a special responsibility because of its geographical location. The institution is strategically placed to serve people living in the remote and difficult-to-reach areas of Himachal Pradesh, where delivering timely and specialised healthcare can be challenging.
Focus on Healthcare in Himachal’s Remote and Hilly Areas
Calling upon AIIMS Bilaspur to develop into a premier centre for advanced tertiary healthcare, the President highlighted the need to strengthen medical services in the state’s hilly and remote regions.
She stressed the importance of using telemedicine, specialist consultations for remote communities, training of medical personnel and the latest healthcare technologies to bridge geographical barriers and ensure that people living in distant areas are not deprived of specialised medical care.
The President’s remarks assume particular significance for Himachal Pradesh, where difficult terrain and scattered settlements can make access to advanced healthcare services a major challenge.
Affordable Treatment Essential for Common People
President Murmu also highlighted the financial burden that serious illnesses can place on patients and their families. She said that the cost of medical treatment can impose a heavy burden on vulnerable sections of society.
In this context, she referred to the Government of India’s Ayushman Bharat-Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY), under which eligible families receive health insurance coverage of up to Rs. 5 lakh per family per year.
She emphasised that ensuring affordable and quality healthcare for citizens is a collective responsibility involving medical institutions, healthcare professionals and policymakers.
AIIMS Institutions Can Drive Cost-Effective Healthcare Solutions
The President also drew attention to the increasing cost of medical equipment and medicines, describing it as a significant challenge for patients and their families.
She said that the development of affordable, accessible and cost-effective healthcare solutions presents not only a challenge but also a major opportunity for premier institutions such as AIIMS.
She encouraged such institutions to focus on innovations and approaches that can make quality healthcare more accessible to ordinary citizens.
President Murmu expressed the hope that the efforts of medical professionals and premier healthcare institutions would help keep citizens healthy and enable them to contribute to the nation’s development to their fullest potential.
The first convocation of AIIMS Bilaspur thus marked an important milestone for the institution, while the President’s address placed a strong emphasis on medical excellence, compassion, affordability, technological innovation and equitable healthcare access, particularly for people living in remote and hilly regions.
