From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network
Bengaluru, Mar 10: Karnataka’s deputy chief minister and medical education minister Dr C N Ashwath Narayan underscored the importance of dedicated, caring, patient and communicative doctors, who were necessary to the success of the healthcare system in the country.
Addressing the convocation ceremony held at St John’s National Academy of Health Sciences in Bengaluru, he said the attributes of commitment, dedication and the desire to help the needy persons were more important for a doctor than just knowledge, skills and competencies.
St John’s is a very distinguished institution and has been dedicated to the motto of serving society and humanity. The institution has mandated serving for two years in rural and underserved areas and this serves as an example to be followed even by the governments, the deputy chief minister said.
A total of 161 health professionals were awarded their degrees, including 60 MBBS students, 83 post-graduates, 16 Super Specialty post-graduates and two PhD scholars. The graduates, postgraduates and super-specialty graduates were presented certificates as well as the various awards won over the years of study. Dr Sr Immanuel Castelino of the batch of 1968 was awarded the Sr Dr Mary Glowrey Award 2018, the highest award of the St John’s Medical College Alumni Association for service in rural and underprivileged areas of the country, for her dedicated and selfless service over the past 43 years in various parts of the country.
Dr Narayan said clinical competence, communication skills and a strong understanding of ethics are the foundation stones of professionalism.
On top of the foundation of the medical profession were four pillars that support professionalism, Dr Narayan said were excellence in service, altruism, humanism and strong social accountability.
"It is these three foundation stones and four pillars that will make the profession and nation as practitioners of medicine, healers and care providers," he said.
He said the governments have been striving hard to make the health facilities reach the remote parts of the country. Over 7,000 Janaushadi Kendras have been set up in the country to provide medicines to people at affordable prices. Tele-consultation will make a huge difference in the future in assuring quality health care, especially in rural areas, Dr Narayan said.
The deputy chief minister said the state government will take measures to prevent the commercialization of medical education.
The National Education Policy will be implemented to facilitate the development of well-rounded personalities by giving equal emphasis to both academic and non-academic excellence of the students, he said.
Most Rev. George Antonysamy, Archbishop of Madras-Mylapore and Chairman of Governing Board of St John’s National Academy of Health Sciences in Bengaluru, presided over the function hoped that the graduates and postgraduates be bestowed with the strength and commitment to serve their patients in the middle of this pandemic.
He hoped that the graduates and postgraduates would continue to serve without any discrimination of class or creed. He also congratulated the state government in its efforts to address the inequity of people seeking health care.
Fr Dr Paul Parathazham, director of St John’s National Academy of Health Sciences welcomed the gathering and emphasized the mission and vision of the institution to reach out to the unreached and excellence in providing training in healthcare.
He thanked the Government of Karnataka for helping St John’s Medical College in being a part of the Covid-19 pandemic.
The dean of St John’s Medical College, Dr George D’Souza highlighted the various achievements of the students and staff and of the institution and the various new teaching and research programs that have been introduced at the institution. He lauded this batch of graduates and postgraduates for their immense efforts in addressing the Covid-19 pandemic and encouraged them to continue this noble selfless service in the coming years.