August 2021

Dear Members
Season’s Greetings!

Like other sciences, modern medicine is an evidence based ever developing science having worldwide acceptance. It is changing lives of people by effectively eradicating, controlling and fighting various old and emerging life endangering diseases in the world.

Modern medical science in our country is also doing its best under able guidance of our Hon’ble PM Modi Ji. Still there are many challenges putting hurdles in development of modern medicine and if not removed in time these may impede development and advances of Healthcare system in our country.

India is a very old civilization which has its own indigenous medical system. No modern medical scientists can deny role of Ayurveda and other medical streams. But all streams have their own principles and pharmacopeias quite different to modern medicine. Mixing these streams will give death blow to our traditional medical system and also
damage progress, quality and effectiveness of modern medicine. The country must allow all systems to do scientific research and develop separately.

The covid 19 pandemic has shown the strength of modern medical science and strong commitments and sacrifices of modern medical professionals.

In our country, more than 1500 doctors of modern medicine have sacrificed their lives fighting covid 19.These covid martyrs belonged both from govt. and private sectors who never stopped their professional works during this devastating pandemic.

We appreciate Govt. of India’s scheme of compensations for covid warriors under PM Garib Kalyan Yojna but we are very sad to see covid martyrs from private sector not being compensated under this scheme. We request government to remove this discrimination. All govt. and private doctors who sacrificed their lives working in this period, did so on the appeal of our Hon’ble PM, under requirements of the Epidemic
Disease Act and under pious professional commitments.

Modern medical professionals in the country are facing attacks not only on their science from vested interests but are facing in security professionally and physically. This must be stopped immediately by a deterrent central act with a strong will and mechanism to enforce them.

Medical profession has been subjected to many unwarranted and impractical acts & rules made by governments. As law makers you must support IMA’s proposals to central govt. for promulgation of a central protection act against violence on medical professionals and institutions. (Provisions of act should be included in IPC and CrPc) and amendments in other vexing regulating acts against this profession.

The science of modern medicine needs to be regulated by democratic will of the medical professionals of the country and the NMC act must be amended to express this will. There cannot be any ground to deny democratic rights of the modern medical professionals to regulate their science and practice. We hope our law makers will seriously ponder
over it.

Even with limited medical infrastructures and numbers of medical professionals in the country, both public and private sectors have done its best for ailing people of India. The health budget of the country must be brought immediately to 5 % of GDP and continue increasing in future. We need to strengthen govt. health sector. Health should be brought in  concurrent list. There should be Pan India parity in compensations and service conditions of medical professionals. An Indian medical service is need of hour. All available and willing medical human resources may be given opportunity to be appointed in govt. sector increasing medical posts, relaxing age and other rules. Medical education should be made affordable. CMEs and Research should be financed by govt. at all levels.
For encouraging medical professionals to work in rural areas a national policy of incentives and amenities be declared. Role of private health sector is also very important. They should also be encouraged and incentivized to meet need of common people and made free from Inspector Raj. The pricing of drugs should be made uniform and affordable without compromising with quality.

IMA, the largest and oldest representative association of modern medical professionals should be heard and must be given representations in all institutions and committees relating policy and execution of health in the country.

We hope a big breakthrough in health care in the country will come by our efforts soon.

On behalf of IMA GSB, we congratulate Junior Doctors Association of various Govt. Medical Colleges of Gujarat for their 10 days of successful struggle, their unity and strength paid off and they have got Govt.
Resolution from stating 1 years of SRship equal to bond. IMA GSB & IMA HQs New Delhi has extended their support to JDA & requested Govt. of Gujarat to consider their demands & take necessary action. We are thankful to Govt. of Gujarat for this amicable solution.

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