Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday urged the Indian Medical Association (IMA) to conduct evidence-based studies on yoga in a mission mode. Modi also suggested that studies on yoga could be published in international journals.
Addressing an event organized by the IMA on the occasion of the National Doctors' Day, the prime minister commended medical fraternity for spreading awareness about yoga. “Work for propagating yoga, that should have been done in the last century after Independence, is being done now,” he said.
Modi also praised the doctors for giving their time to the evidence-based studies on the benefits of yoga for dealing with post-Covid complications.
It may be noted that the prime minister's appeal to the IMA for the promotion of yoga came in the wake of a tussle between the doctors' body and yoga guru Baba Ramdev, after the latter allegedly made some disparaging comments against modern medicine.
During his address, Modi said that the government is committed to the safety of doctors, while mentioning the stringent laws brought in by the Centre to prevent violence against medical professionals. He also said a free insurance cover scheme has been brought for the Covid warriors.
Acknowledging the doctors' contribution during the COVID-19 pandemic, the prime minister recalled their efforts and paid homage to those who laid down their lives in the service of humanity.
Modi said our doctors are facing the new and fast mutating virus on the basis of their experience and expertise. “Despite the limitations of long-neglected medical infrastructure and pressure of population, India’s per lakh population rate of infection and death rate is still manageable compared to even developed countries. The loss of lives is always painful but many lives have been saved. The credit goes to hard-working doctors, healthcare workers, frontline workers for saving many lives,” the prime minister said.
Modi stressed that the focus of the government is on strengthening healthcare. During the first wave of the pandemic, about 15 thousand crore rupees were allocated for healthcare and this year, health sector budget has been doubled to more than 2 lakh crore rupees, he said.
“Rs 50 thousand crore have been allocated for credit guarantee scheme to develop health infrastructure in the under-served area. New AIIMS, medical colleges are being established. Work has been initiated on 15 AIIMS as opposed to total six AIIMS that existed in 2014,” Modi said, adding that the number of medical colleges has increased one and a half times.
Under graduate medical seats have increased one and half times and PG seats have grown by 80 per cent, said the prime minister.
Modi called on the doctors to continue to inspire the people to get vaccinated and adopt Covid appropriate behavior.
He further stressed the importance of documentation of experiences by doctors. Along with the experiences, symptoms of the patients and treatment plan needs to be documented in great details, he said. This can be taken up as a research study where effects of various medicines and treatments are noted, he added.