Smt. K.K. Shylaja, Hon’ble Minister for Health and Social Justice,
Shri K. Muraleedharan, Member of Legislative Assembly,
Swami Suviranandaji Maharaj, Assistant General Secretary, Ramakrishna Mission,
Padmavibhushan Dr. M.S. Valiathan,
Dr. Kris Gopalakrishnan, Founder Member, Infosys,
Swamy Mokshavritananda,
Smt Bindu Sreekumar, Councillor, Sasthamangalam ward
Sahodaree Sahodaranmaare,
Madhyama Suhruthukkale,
Ellaavarkkum Ente Namaskaaram,
I am very happy to inaugurate the newly built Infosys Foundation Operation Theatre Block at Sree Ramakrishna Ashrama Charitable Hospital, Thiruvananthapuram.
Let me begin by expressing my deep sense of appreciation for the service rendered by the Sree Ramakrishna Mission in health care and in the general welfare of the people in the last seventy five years. Inspired by Swami Vivekananda’s philosophy that Service to man is service to God, this institution has been serving on an average, more than 650 patients every day at affordable rates. The story of its beginning in 1939 as the Narendra Mission Charitable Dispensary and its growth in later years are well known in Thiruvananthapuram.
As we all know, the proclaimed aim of Sree Ramakrishna Mission has been to spread the idea of the potential divinity of every being and to show how it manifests through our actions and thoughts. Right from its inception in 1897, the Mission has been championing the idea of the harmony of religions and treating all work as worship, and service to man as service to God.
It is this philosophy of life that enabled the Mission to work towards alleviating human suffering by spreading education, rendering medical service through hospitals like this, extending help to villagers through rural development centres, etc.
I should also compliment Infosys Foundation for the interest that company has taken in providing this facility in this hospital. As a global leader in technology services serving more than 50 countries, Infosys has a clear policy on corporate social responsibility, which encourages working with organizations that provide health care to people. I understand that the Infosys Foundation headed by Smt. Sudha Murthy has been silently but actively supporting programmes in the areas of education, health-care, destitute care etc., in many States in our country. Therefore, in the creation of this new surgical facility in this hospital, one can see the blending of a saintly philosophy with a corporate vision that goes beyond business.
An effective health-care system is an indicator of development in any society. Kerala's progress in health, in spite of lower per capita income, had once been hailed as the Kerala model in health-care. However, we have come to a stage where the old Kerala model has ceases to be one that suits our modern times.
At present, in Kerala, more than 60% of the people depend on private hospitals for their health needs. In fact, this has resulted in hundreds of families going bankrupt due to the treatment expenses of their members. It is therefore not surprising that the Government's thrust is on easing the financial burden of people by reducing their out-of-pocket expenditure for health needs. The new Health Policy of the State has suggested several measures to strengthen the health care facilities created by the Government.
While enhancing the facilities in the Government hospitals and creating a more systematic referral system are certainly good, it may not be possible to drastically reduce people's dependence on private hospitals, within a short period. It would take some years to ensure that all kinds of health care needs are met by the government's institutions. Therefore, it would be good for the public health care system to consider an improved cooperation and networking with private hospitals that offer affordable health care services as part of charitable work.
Since many of the hospitals managed by charitable organizations do not spend money on advertising their services, many people do not know about these services which may be less expensive. I would therefore request the Sree Ramakrishna Mission to publicize the services and the rates for each service in such a way that such information reaches as many people as possible.
Another area that needs the active attention of health care institutions pertains to the health issues of elderly people. Due to higher life expectancy, we have a large number of people above sixty years of age. The elderly population faces some physical, mental and social health issues which are unique. They also have life style diseases and some are troubled by dementia, Parkinson's disease and so on, but the general tendency in every family is to ignore such conditions as part of the natural process of getting old. It is high time every health care institution took extra interest in handling health issues of the elderly and in educating younger people about health problems that can befall the elderly in every home.
I understand that the Sree Ramakrishna Ashram also runs Rural Health programs through its six centres in Thiruvananthapuram district and one in Tamil Nadu for the rural and tribal people. It is gratifying to note that these centres also provide study aid materials, nutritious food & tuition to more than 100 students through their student welfare programs. I hope institutions like Infosys Foundation would come forward to extend cooperation in making such activities more effective.
I compliment the organizers for conducting this function in a befitting manner. I also hope that the Sree Ramakrishna Ashrama Charitable Hospital receives adequate cooperation from philanthropists for improving its facilities to such levels that would benefit more people in society.
Ellaavarkkum Ente Aashamsakal
Nanni
Jai Hind
