Pics: Umesh Marpalli
Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi

Updated

Udupi, Jun 18: Inaugurating a new era in the sphere of healthcare in Udupi, President Pranab Mukherjee on Sunday June 18 laid the foundation for the super-specialty hospital being built by NRI entrepreneur Dr B R Shetty under his BRS Health & Research Institute Pvt Ltd.

The President symbolically laid the foundation for the state-of-the-art Shambhu Shetty Memorial Haji Abdullah Super Speciality Hospital in a formal ceremony organized at Rajangana hall here.

President Pranab Mukharjee received a warm welcome at the helipad at Adi-Udupi by district in-charge minister Pramod Madhwaraj, deputy commissioner Priyanka Mary Francis and City Municipality Council president Meenakshi Madhav Bannanje. Zilla panchayat president Dinakar Babu and superintendent of police T Balakrishna were present.

Pranab Mukharjee first came to the Curcuit House in zero traffic, after which he visited Sri Krishna Math, where he took the darshan of Lord Krishna. Tight security was provided around the Math.

Addressing the gathering, the President hailed Udupi as a place of advancement and progress, and said that his association with this part of Karnataka dates back to 40-45 years to the time when former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi had contested the Lok Sabha by-elections from Chikkamagaluru in 1978.

The President said that while advances in modern medicine and investment in health infrastructure have made many diseases such as cholera, small pox, plague, tuberculosis etc curable and eradicated others, there remains a huge gap in the country in terms of access to medicine and health care. This brings us to the larger and more serious question of the skewed nature of health care in India – both in terms of infrastructure and personnel.

"Against the international norm of one doctor per thousand population, we have one doctor for 1,700 people in our country. The ratio thus stands at 0.7:1000. The situation is more alarming in rural India where the shortage of surgeons is to the tune of 83.4 percent, obstetricians and gynaecologists to the tune of 76.3 percent, paediatrics to the tune of 82.1 percent and general physician to the tune of 83 per cent at the level of the community health centres," Mukherjee said.

"This is compounded by the fact that we educate and train about 50 percent less doctors than our requirement stands at.

The President said that only a healthy mind and healthy body can be the abode of God. He appreciated Dr B R Shetty and his wife for their efforts in establishing this Hospital. He stated that providing accessible and affordable medical facilities should be the objective of healthcare in our country. 

He called for ample infrastructure at the district and other rural areas and to encourage doctors and practitioners to serve there.

"Over the past 70 years, we have made significant progress in the quality of healthcare," he said, while also emphasising on the need to increase engagement of the corporate sector in public private partnership in the field of public health, especially in rural areas.

He also lauded Dr B R Shetty and his wife for taking this initiative to provide top quality healthcare to the people of the coastal region, and for their contribution to society in various ways. He also recalled the contributions of Haji Abdullah, who granted the land at K M Marg to establish the government mother and child hospital over 90 years ago, in place of which Dr B R Shetty's new hospital is coming up.

The President also appreciated Sri Krishna Math for its social service initiatives, and said that it was not only a place to pray, but also one that had made great contributions to the society in terms of providing education and meals to the needy.

In his speech, the President also condemned the recent incidents of assaulst on doctors and said that the noble profession of doctor should be respected. He also emphasized that in case doctors are unable to save the lives of patients, attacks on doctors or any violence on the part of relatives of the patients should be avoided. He condemned this uncivilized behaviour and said that we should trust doctors who try their best to save lives and cure patients. 

"Sometimes we find that if a patient dies, the angry mob led by their relatives vandalise the hospital, beat the physician or surgeons. This is not good. No civilised society can tolerate it," he said.

"Yes, doctors can try, medicines can do wonders, but at the same time one has to keep it in mind that there would be deaths. This type of vandalism should be condemned," he added.

Paryaya Sri Vishweshateertha Swamiji of Pejawar Math said, "Haji Abdullah had close relations with Sri Krishna Math. Now that the super-specialty hospital is being built on the same land that he had donated, it will be still closer to the Math. Let the poor get good healthcare from this hospital. They will be given free treatment here. I pray that it succeeds."

Health minister Ramesh Kumar said, "Chief miniser Siddaramaiah has taken the initiative of starting such super-specialty hospitals in five districts. The government's aim as well duty is to ensure that no individual has to travel far to get access to quality healthcare, and this is what we are doing. In some hospitals facilities are lacking and there is shortage of expertise and specialists to open supers-pecialty hospitals at the state level. The government will give plenty of support to those who are willing to take this responsibility and will also provide the necessary equipment."

Dr B R Shetty welcomed the gathering.

Bengaluru urban development minister K J George, Pramod Madhwaraj and others were present.

Kollur visit 

The President later proceeded to Kollur Sri Mookambika Temple by road through zero traffic and sought divine blessings while participating in special puja.

After arriving in Kollur, Pranab Mukherjee first went to Mahalaxmi Residency where he rested for sometime. He then left for the temple, where he was welcomed and honoured by organizing committee president Harish Shetty. The temple priests briefed the President about the special features and history of the temple. Thereafter, the special puja was performed.

While the President was offering puja, it started raining despite the weather being sunny.

Urban development minister K J George, muzrai minister ,Rudrappa Lamani, minister Pramod Madhwaraj, MLA Gopal Poojary, Kollur temple administrative trustee Harish Shetty, DGP M N Reddi, deputy commissioner Priyanka Mary Francis and others were present.

Thereafter, the President left for Mangaluru, where he took the IAF flight back to New Delhi.

Tight security was deployed along the Udupi-Kollur route via Hemmady that the President's envoy travelled through. Vehicular movement was halted for half an hour during arrival as well as departure of the President.

Earlier Report

President Pranab Mukherjee accorded warm welcome at Mangaluru airport

Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru

Mangaluru, Jun 18: President of India Pranab Mukherjee on Sunday June 18 arrived at Mangaluru International Airport en route to Udupi where he is scheduled to participate in a programme and visite temples.

The President was accorded a warm welcome at the airport by district in-charge minister Ramanath Rai.

Minister for food and civil supplies U T Khader, mayor Kavita Sanil, ZP president Meenakshi Shantigodu, deputy commissioner Dr K G Jagadeesh and police commissioner T R Suresh were present to welcome the President.

Pranab Mukherjee arrived at the airport by IAF aircraft. He was accompanied by Bengaluru urban development minister K J George.

Thereafter, the President left for Udupi via an IAF helicopter.

The police deployed tight security in the airport and along the approach road leading to airport.

The President will inaugurated Dr B R Shetty's super-specialty hospital in Udupi, and also visit Sri Krishna Math and Sri Mookambika Temple at Kollur.