Prof. M.K.C. Nair, Vice-Chancellor, Kerala University of Health Sciences,
Dr. Azad Moopen, Chairman and Managing Director, Wayanad Institute of Medical Sciences,
Prof. Antony Sylvan D’ Souza, Dean,
Dr. Amala Baby, Interns Representative,
Dear Teachers, Parents and beloved students,
Madhyama Suhruthukkale,
Sahodaree Sahodaranmare,
Ellaavarkkum Ente Namaskaaram.
It gives me immense joy to address you at the Graduation Ceremony of the first batch of MBBS students at the DM Wayanad Institute of Medical Sciences, Wayanad.
Let me at the outset, congratulate the batch for registering a 93% success in the examinations. I also take this opportunity to congratulate all the students who have successfully completed their course.
I am informed that Wayanad Institute of Medical Sciences, is the first in north Kerala to get the accreditation of National Accreditation board for Hospitals [NABH]. To be educated in such an institution with an international linkage is a privilege that only very few would get and therefore, I would consider you as fortunate students.
I must admit that the location of this Medical College was one of the reasons that prompted me to accept this invitation. As we all know, DM Wayanad Institute of Medical Sciences has been set up in one of the socially and economically backward districts of Kerala.
The DM Education and Research Foundation, a charitable and education Trust under the Aster DM Health-care group and Dr. Azad Moopen deserve appreciation for registering this institution in 2010 at a place where urbanization stands below 4 percent and 35% of the population comes from tribal areas. The establishment of this college has certainly improved the medical facilities of this district, which has been proposed as an inspirational district by the NITI Ayog. It also merits mention that Wayanad is the only District in Kerala which does not have a Government Medical College. Therefore, the establishment of this Medical College with a built up area of 1,20,000 sq. mt. with advanced facilities in all branches of Medical Sciences, is certainly a milestone in Wayanad’s history.
I am happy to know that the Trust has been providing free treatment and medicine to the people including the Tribals, who are living below poverty line and conducting medical camps, training programs and awareness programmes in the District. That the medical college has provided jobs to over 1000 people of the district is also noteworthy. Above all, the international linkage of the DM Aster health-care group, can benefit the students as well as people who seek treatment here.
Dear young doctors, today is a very important day in your life as it marks the culmination of long years of study and hard work. For your parents and relatives, it will be a moment of pride. But, for you, this is not an opportunity to rest on the laurels, because this Degree marks only the beginning of a new life. What lies ahead are challenges that would test your efficiency. You may also face ethical challenges and will have to cope with emerging technologies.
As young doctors graduating from a college in a less developed place, you have seen the difficulties felt by people seeking medical help. Today, Kerala is a major supplier of doctors and nurses to the developed countries of the world. At the same time, we face a shortage of doctors in our rural health units. One reason is that young doctors are reluctant to serve in such health centers.
In your profession, if you get an opportunity to serve in rural hospitals, I would suggest that you should grab the opportunity. This is because such rural hospitals are the only hope to the majority of our ordinary people. And, rural hospitals provide the best platform for translating your acquired knowledge into practice and to fine-tune your skills as a doctor.
Keeping pace with the new developments in medicine has become a major challenge. The range of ethical issues has also widened so much that every technological improvement brings with it some ethical issue. Those in the medical profession have to be doubly cautious in dealing with situations that may pose ethical issues. I hope that a strict adherence to the ethical practices would be your top priority.
The Medical Council of India (MCI) Code of Ethics Regulations, 2002 sets the professional standards for medical practice. I request the doctors’ community to follow the standards prescribed in the Regulations. Apart from the Code of Ethics Regulations, 2002, there are special legislations like the Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (Regulation and Prevention of Misuse) Act, 1994, which prohibit the determination and disclosure of sex of the fetus and prescribes criminal punishment for contravention. Likewise, doctors are mandated to give disability certificate as per the provisions of the Persons with Disabilities [Equal Opportunities, Protection of Rights and Full Participation] Act, 1995 which provides for education, employment, creation of a barrier free environment, social security etc to all disabled persons.
Young doctors must realize that there are no provisions in the Indian Penal Code, Code of Criminal Procedure and Motor Vehicles Act, which prevent government and private doctors from promptly attending to seriously injured accident victims before the police complete the legal formalities. The priority should be to save the person and it is applicable to doctors, police or any other citizen who notices an accident.
In conclusion, I would remind you that a doctor should be an eternal student with a mind open to society. Compassion is one quality that each doctor should possess and cultivate throughout one’s life time. It is said that those who regularly witness human misery become insensitive to it. But, a doctor cannot and must never become insensitive to human misery. Every such instance should strengthen your mind with compassion and the will to help those who suffer.
I wish you the professional and academic excellence, confidence and above all, a compassionate mind to achieve the goal of winning the people's faith in your abilities as doctors.
I compliment the WIMS Authorities for organizing this ceremony in a befitting manner. I once again greet everyone present here and wish them success in their chosen fields of activity.
Ellavarkkum Ente Aashamsakal
Nanni
Jai Hind
