Dr. M.I. Sahadulla, Chairman & Managing Director, KIMS,
Dr. G. Vijayaraghavan, Vice Chairman, KIMS
Shri E.M. Najeeb, Executive Director, KIMS,
Shri Sankar Radhakrishnan, Writer and Editor,
Shri G. Vijayaraghavan, Advisor to KIMS Board,
Dr. Sheriff Sahadulla, Chief Executive Officer, KIMS GCC,
Sahodaree Sahodaranmare,
Ellavarkkum Ente Namaskaram.
I am very happy to release the book entitled Vital Signs, written by Dr. M.I Sahadulla, one of the most well known Kerala based internal medicine specialists and Chairman & Managing Director, KIMS Health-care Management.
Let me at the outset, congratulate Dr. Sahadulla on his success in publishing this book, which is a collection of his personal but very scholarly reflections on Medicine and Management.
Dr. Sahadullamakes it very clear in the introduction itself, that the book is not an autobiography; nor is it a book on management or entrepreneurship. However, even a cursory glance through the pages would reveal that the book provides an interesting mix of medical, entrepreneurial and managerial insights to the readers. Though the book does not go deeply into the historical aspects of doctoring, it throws light on how the medical profession has changed in the last seven decades, to become an increasingly commercial and technology-driven activity.
One of the observations I found rather interesting in the book, pertained to the state of medical education. As a person who was fortunate to practice in the United Kingdom for two years, Dr. Sahadulla could identify some of the gaps in our medical education system, which had developed form the system in the UK. However, even after five decades, he feels that little has changed in medical education in our country. Citing the example of the United States, where students were admitted from diverse backgrounds including mathematics and music, he argues that such a diversity among medical aspirants helps to usher in out-of-the-box thinking and innovation among future doctors. And he proves it with the story of how the stethoscope was invented.
I must admit that the account of Dr. Sahadulla’s long innings in Saudi Arabia reveal many wrong ideas people generally tend to harbour about that country. While that nation is generally known for its excessive restrictions, its adherence to modern medicine, especially the American system, has worked wonders. The Saudi years also helped to shape
Dr. Sahadulla as an expert in health-care management through the opportunities for interaction with world renowned American medical centres like the Mayo Clinic. The account of how the Saudi years got him involved in community service during the Gulf war also provides interesting reading.
At a time when Kerala has declared a Health Policy that seeks to strengthen primary health centres into Community Health centres, Dr. Sahadulla also declares his strong belief in the power of primary and secondary health centres, which would encourage more discussion among the doctors. I have felt this to be very important, since in many cases, patients do not benefit from a collective consultation in our medical system. And Dr. Sahadulla explains how some doctors were reluctant to participate in the discussions in the medical boards he created in the hospital that he initiated along with like minded friends.
Besides what I have mentioned, Dr. Sahadulla’sbook also throws light on our general approach towards entrepreneurs in his account of his encounters with the Tax-man. However, in the changed circumstances, I am certain that he is convinced that Ease of doing business is not alien to Kerala. I also have a feeling that his sentiments about the incident were triggered by his status as an accidental entrepreneur, as he describes himself. Accidental or otherwise, Dr. Sahadulla has proved his mettle through the awards he has won and in his success making his hospital one of the first five in the country to be accredited by National Accreditation Board for Hospitals.
I would suggest that our health-care professionals should keep this book as a reckoner in hospital management, since he addresses issues ranging from treatment protocol to waste management. That each hospital bed generates nearly one kilogram of waste per day was news to me. I am happy that Kerala’s Health Policy views waste management as a vital sign that holds the key to several health issues.
I am happy that he has given thrust to the transition from health-care tourism to medical wellness tourism, about which he has acquired a clear vision through research. In fact, one quality that I saw in the book is that while it makes interesting reading, it also ensures credibility of information through adequate research on topics as varied as health-care, law and migration.
I once again compliment Dr. Sahadulla for having found the time to put his thoughts together to create such a book in an interesting and informative way. I hope his reflections and observations would continue to guide the health-care sector in Kerala.
I also compliment the organizers for conducting this function in a befitting manner.
Ellavarkkum Ente Aashamsakal
Nanni
Jai Hind
