The Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan today sought cooperation of doctors to raise awareness on lifestyle faultlines at the root of non-communicable diseases like hypertension, diabetes and cancer, and also to launch drives against preventable deaths of infants and new mothers.
"The social mobilisation achieved for pulse polio is unprecedented in terms of scale and reach. This was possible because people observed the professional commitment of doctors at the heart of the mission.
"I hope to revive this spirit in the coming months when I launch drives against preventable deaths of infants, children and new mothers.
"I need the cooperation of doctors to raise awareness on lifestyle faultlines at the root of non-communicable diseases like hypertension, coronary artery disease, diabetes and cancer," Vardhan said as he felicitated the Delhi Medical Association (DMA) on completing 100 glorious years of service to the people of Delhi and India.
Vardhan said he would like to see DMA reviving its social mission and contributing to the government's 'Health for All' objective. "I would like to involve all sections of society in achieving the United Nations Millennium Development Goals," he said.
"I urge the DMA to hold workshops for young doctors where they should be instructed on rational prescription of drugs and generic medicines. Further I appeal to medical community to
revive 'service before self' spirit.
"They should also be encouraged to advise their patients on steps they should take to prevent the recurrence of their diseases because about 40 percent of the disease burden has its origin in lack of physical exercise on the part of the patient," Vardhan said.
In a statement on the occasion, Vardhan asked fellow doctors to "introspect and rebuild the lost glory of the medical profession".
That, in the minister's view, would be the highest tribute to Dr Ansari and his team of founders of DMA.
