New Delhi: Chief Justice of India NV Ramana Tuesday paid his tributes to the medical professionals who lost their lives in the fight against COVID-19 and expressed his gratitude to doctors for their services and said the negative instances of doctors - who continued to work on the frontline -- being threatened, attacked and abused during the pandemic was truly unfortunate.
The CJI also said that medical awareness was extremely significant for society and termed quackery as the biggest disease affecting the country. Noting that there are false cases against upright and hardworking doctors and a massive brain drain is taking place as young talent was moving abroad, the CJI said an environment where more young people want to become doctors has to be fostered and the government must ensure the welfare of its doctors and improve their working conditions.
Justice Ramana, who was speaking at the inaugural National Academy of Medical Sciences (NAMS) Public Oration on 'Law and Medicine, emphasised that healthcare infrastructure and policy cannot be planned only when an emergency arises and doctors were extremely important in framing the roadmap to healthcare in the country.
During the pandemic, I saw various instances where doctors had been threatened, abused, attacked, and shunned. Despite this, they continued working on the front lines. This negative response towards doctors is truly unfortunate. Several false cases are being lodged against upright and hardworking doctors. "They need a better, and more secure, working environment. We must foster an environment where more young people want to become doctors to serve Indian society. This attitude towards doctors is pushing out our best talents abroad, the CJI stated.
He said that many aspiring doctors from small towns and rural areas rely on the government for education, support, and employment and the government must also think of stronger incentives to make doctors accessible to the rural population. We as a society must change this and incentivize our doctors to stay in India and continue their service and help meet both our medical and social goals. The Central and State Governments too have a serious responsibility. Many aspiring doctors from small towns and rural areas rely on the government for education, support, and employment. But, beyond this initial support, the government must look out for the welfare of its doctors and improve their working conditions, he said.
In his address, the CJI spoke on the corporatisation of the healthcare system and said that while it is not necessarily a bad thing, there was a glaring need for balance as hospitals were being run like companies and profit making was becoming more important than service to society and the cost of healthcare was forcing people to suppress their needs.
