Pics: Meryick D'Silva
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (JS)
Mangaluru, Feb 13: Thousands of doctors converged at city's TMA Pai Convention Centre here on Thursday February 12 as the 43rd national-level 'Dermacon 2015' conference began on a splendid note.
The four-day event, organized by India Association of Dermatologists, Venereologists and Leprologists (IADVL), is being held in the city after 32 years. Over 5,000 medical practitioners from across the country are in the city to attend the event.
The event was inaugurated by Dr Pritam Gopinath Munde, dermatologist and member of parliament. She is the daughter of the late BJP leader Gopinath Munde.
Addressing the gathering, Dr Pritam Munde said, "It is a great honour for me to inaugurate Dermacon-2015. It is huge achievement for me to stand here in front of my teachers. I always wanted to continue as a dermatogist but today I am in politics. I won by a margin of 7 lac votes and it was just because of the goodwill of my father. I do not fit into politics, this is my fraternity. As a member of parliment I will do everything possible to improve medical education and facilities. I wish all the best to IADVL in all their future endavours and extend all my support in their good work."
Noted dermatologist Dr Ganesh Pai said, "More than three decades ago, a cozy town with lush verdant greenery and tall beckoning coconut palms hosted an IADVL national conference. It was Mangaluru, a coastal town on the Arabian sea inhabited by soft spoken people with a hospitable culture. Then, a handful of us hosted a platoon of dermatologists. We have donated Rs 50,000 to Rs 1 lac to all leprosy homes, animal care trusts and other organisations. I request all the younger dermatologists to practice dermatology whole-heartedly even though cosmetology brings more money."
Dr Deepak Parekh said, "Our association in the past one year has conducted four workshops in Ahmedabad, Mumbai, Delhi and Bangaluru, and conducted research methodology under IADVL research grant. All awards and posts were advertised and put in place. Executive meetings were conducted to discuss various aspects of the function. One of the main problems was financial accountability. We had money but did not know how to utilise it. With all the efforts put it, today IADVL has Rs 10 crore fund. We invited Sushil Solanki who is a pioneer in service tax to structurise the financial plan. As a result, today all the Dermacon accounts are structurised. We have active participation of young members of IADVL. Every commitee in IADVL has 1-2 posts for young members. IADVL website was revamped for easy navigation."
Prof K C Kandari award was awarded to Dr Rui Fernandes who has done tremendous work in dermatology and venerology.
Dr Deepak Parekh launched the IADVL Derma app and ceremonial installation of Dr Venkataram Mysore as president of 2015-16.
Venkatram Mysore said, "I congradulate Dr Deepak Parek on his work and welcome the new members. Let us all march together towards excellence and competence with effective communication. Let us all perform our duties and act responsibly. A doctor plays many roles - as a physician, family man and serves the society. We need to ask what we can do for the community. With the motto of 'Swach Bharat Swasth Bharat' we want to start this mission.
"With the good initiative of clean India let us focus towards healthy India too. We will design another app 'Dermaseva' through which people with dermatological problems in rural villages can contact their physicians and send the photos on app, and if some dermatologist is interested, he can give his feedback. Medicine is never commerce. Healthcare should not be commercialized," he said.
Dermacon organizing secretary Dr Ramesh Bhat proposed the vote of thanks.
Cultural programmes were held after the inaugural ceremony.