Incentives must for doctors in rural areas to cope with shortage: VP Singh Badnore

Photo by Rakesh Shah

GMCH among top 10 medical colleges; 6.76 lakh patients took treatment from OPD: Dr. B.S. Chavan, Director Principal

Chandigarh, September 9, 2018: Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH), Sector 32 here today observed its 27^th annual day at the hospital premises here. V P Singh Badnore, Governor of Punjab and Administrator, UT, Chandigarh, was the Chief Guest on the occasion.

V.P. Singh Badnore, Governor of Punjab and Administrator, UT, Chandigarh, while addressing the gathering said, “I am very happy to be here on the occasion of the Annual Day Celebrations of a very prestigious medical college of our country. It is noteworthy that this institute is also contributing towards the pool of paramedical professionals and staff nurses by running these paramedical courses.”

The Administrator said, doctors are mitigating the suffering of people and we must acknowledge as a nation the great work this community is doing. However, a lot needs to be done as we are facing severe shortage of doctors in rural and semi urban areas.  This problem is more acute in rural areas where most of the population of our country lives.  The doctors can be given some incentive to serve in the rural areas or we can have people trained only for serving in rural areas.

Photo by Rakesh Shah

He expressed his concern over lifestyle diseases like hypertension, coronary artery disease, lipid disorders etc. which are on the rise and stressed on adopting a healthy lifestyle by eating right type of food, regular exercise and to imbibe the practice of doing yoga.

“I am happy to note that GMCH is in the forefront of providing tertiary level care not only to the residents of Chandigarh but also to the population of surrounding states of Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Jammu & Kashmir. I wish similar health care facilities can be established in the surrounding states as well”, he added.

Dr. B.S. Chavan, Director Principal, GMCH, while addressing invitees said it was on this day in 1991, when the first batch of 50 MBBS students was admitted to this prestigious college.  Since then, 9^th Sept is celebrated as the Annual Day of Government medical college and hospital.

Photo by Rakesh Shah

“As far as training of medical professionals is concerned, this year we are ranked amongst the top 10 medical colleges of the country. Our first 4 MBBS students this year are from TOP 100 All India NEET rank. Our MD/MS seats have been increased from 119 to 125 and these seats will be increased to 140 and MCI has already conducted inspection for these additional seats for 2019. This will improve patient care as junior residents are the backbone of any health care establishment. From this year, we have started MD in Radiation Oncology. This will improve care of cancer patients”, said Dr. Chavan. He added last year approximately 6.76 lakh patients took treatment from OPD, 1.36 lacs came to emergency and trauma services, conducted 17000 major surgeries and 39000 minor surgeries.

Among other prominent present were, Arun Kumar Gupta, Secretary Home-cum-Medical Education & Research, Chandigarh Administration, Prof. J.S. Chopra founder Director-Principal of GMCH, Prof. V.K. Kak, Prof. H.M. Swami, Prof. Raj Bahadur, Prof. A.K. Janmeja and Prof Atul Sachdev, former Director Principals of GMCH were among those present.