Smt. K.K. Shailaja, Minister for Health and Social Justice,
Prof. Dr. M.K.C. Nair, Vice Chancellor, Kerala University of Health Sciences,
Prof. Dr. Ramla Beevi, Director of Medical Education,
Prof. Dr. Thomas Mathew, Principal, Government Medical College, Thiruvananthapuram,
Prof. Dr. Harikumaran Nair, Research Dean, Kerala University of Health Sciences,
Dr. P.S. Indu, Head, Community Medicine, Government Medical College, Thiruvananthapuram,
Respected Teachers,
Delegates, Students and Researchers,
Friends in media,
Sahodaree Sahodaranmare,
Ellaavarkkum Ente Namaskaaram.
I am very happy to inaugurate NATCON-2018, theNational Conference on Students' Medical Research organized by the Department of Community Medicine,Government Medical College, Thiruvananthapuram under the patronage of the Kerala University of Health Sciences.
Let me begin by complimenting the Department of Community Medicine and the University for selecting Universal Health Coverage, flood response and control of Nipah as the theme of this Conference.
As we all know, the World Health Organization (WHO), which is celebrating its 70th anniversary this year, had declared Universal Health Coverage (UHC) as the theme for this year’s World Health Day, which was on 7th April.
By emphasizing Health For All, the World Health Organization had attracted the entire world's attention and commitment towards the Sustainable Development Goals of 2015. The aim is to ensure access to quality health services for all, without facing any financial hardship. However, it does not guarantee free medical services as all countries cannot afford it. But, access to health service itself is a great achievement.
All over the world, one of the biggest challenges in healthcare is the escalating medical costs, which consume a significant portion of the budget of nations as well as families. It is therefore not surprising that the spirit of universal health coverage reflects in the new Health policy of Kerala, which seeks to broaden the range of services and to reduce people's out-of- pocket expenditure for healthcare.
One of the best ways to reduce cost of health care is to improve the avenues for medical research so that more cost effective treatment methods are evolved for the benefit of the people. It is here that the conferences like this gain great relevance. Here, we can also consider the estimate of the World Health Organization that nearly 65 percent of the world population do not have proper access to modern medicine. The only way out is to strengthen research activities so that we get results that would ensure universal access to medical aid.
All the medical students and teachers assembled here would recall how we implemented the Aardram Mission in healthcare, with the aim of revisiting the much celebrated Kerala model of health care. We have the best records in Infant mortality rates and we could bring down the maternal mortality rate. However, there is still room for improvement, particularly in primary healthcare and in the management of non-communicable diseases.
Even as we revisit the Kerala model, our response to the recent events like the Nipah viral attack remind us that Kerala's health system is still one of the best and that its scientific and managerial foundations are still intact. Fully relying on scientific knowledge and coordinated action, we were able to handle the Nipah outbreak as well as the threat of diseases like Leptospirosis in the aftermath of the recent floods. I am happy that this Conference will devote a Continuing Medical Education (CME) programme on how Kerala's health system handled these situations. I am told that many of those who worked hard to handle the Nipah virus attack are here to share their thoughts at the CME today. Let me once again appreciate their services.
The concept of health as ‘physical, mental and social well being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity’ also needs our attention. While we can boast of our achievements, we must remember that in India, recent studies have established heart diseases as a major killer in both urban and rural areas. When we consider all age groups, heart diseases account for about 19 percent of all deaths in the country. Such statistics should make us think deeply on creating awareness about a healthy living among people.
As a State which has firmly relied on scientific systems, we also need to evaluate the content that reaches people in the name of medical information. Quackery is a major issue in today's medical scenario and we see many unqualified people taking the role of information-providers. While better flow of authentic information is essential, we also need a mechanism to check the flow of incorrect and unfounded suggestions that appear as medical hints or home remedies, especially through social media. Those in the Ayush system also should be watchful, since the trend is to label such matters on traditional knowledge.
The need for effective research is emphasized by the search for solutions to many of the emerging problems in health. Undoubtedly, future doctors are most suited to provide such solutions since they see the problems of patients every day. Medical students must learn to see diseases as social issues and must cultivate curiosity to explore every unusual observations.
However, we also perceive among our young medicos, a general lack of interest in a career in medical research. After undergoing rigorous training that spans many years, they would be eager to go into practice rather than research. Economic reasons also work behind the preference for success as a practitioner instead of a researcher. Therefore, our medical universities have to devise some plans to make research more attractive so that young doctors would not feel that they are taking a risk by choosing a career in Research.
I am happy that many medical students from Medical, Dental, Nursing and Pharmaceutical sciences have come forward to present papers in this Conference. I would also like to see these papers compiled as a journal, since we need more publications in research. I recall that the Health University had recently brought out a popular journal for medical research. But, I would certainly hope to see a peer reviewed medical journal with high impact factor coming from Kerala very soon.
I once again greet all the students who are presenting papers in the conference and wish them all the best. I also compliment the organizers for conducting this function in a befitting manner.
Ellavarkkum Ente Aashamsakal
Nanni
Jai Hind
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