I am indeed delighted to participate in the inauguration of Poly Medical Clinic established by Wat Thai Kusinara Mahavihar at Kushinagar to commemorate the 2550th Anniversary Mahaparinirvana of Lord Buddha. My greetings to the reverent Monks, doctors, nurses, paramedical staff and distinguished guests. I congratulate Wat Thai Kusinara Charitable Trust for planning and creation of a large medical centre in this divine place. I am glad to see this hospital grow with facilities for admission in general medicines, orthopaedics, paediatrics, gynaecology, and chest diseases and many other specialities.

Vision for Healthcare

A report on "Health Care in India" was prepared in consultation with leading doctors, medical technologists and healthcare providers in the country. The report brought out typical problems facing us for two decades in the health care and suggested possible solutions. The expert team has identified eradication of three major diseases namely, Tuberculosis, HIV and water-borne diseases by next decade; followed by cardiovascular diseases, neuro-psychiatric disorders, renal diseases and hypertension, gastrointestinal disorders, eye disorders, genetic diseases, accidents and trauma, which need our attention.

There are two major issues involved. First, we have to augment our primary healthcare system in a big way, empower our secondary healthcare system and integrate both with the tertiary care centres. Second, we should see how the advancement in technology could be put to use to improve the health care system of the country. These two efforts will make modern medicine available and accessible to all the citizens of our country. The Poly Medical Clinic will be the first step towards providing quality healthcare to the people of Kusinara and the tourists coming to this place in view of its international importance. When I am with you, I would like to discuss my experience with mobile clinics in Hill Regions.

Mobile Clinics in Hill Regions

Some time back, I participated in the launching of a Mobile Clinic and Research Centre in Uttaranchal. This effort was piloted by the Technology Information, Forecasting and Assessment Council [TIFAC], the Government of Uttaranchal, Birla Institute of Scientific Research and many other agencies. After four years of its operation, I found this mobile clinic has been used in six districts of Uttaranchal and treated nearly 60,000 patients during this period. Among the patients treated, 48% belong to the below poverty line category. They have taken 12,000 ultra sound, 7,000 X-rays, 2,200 ECGs and nearly 30,000 lab tests. The mobile clinic has documented the disease profile of the patients in the region (six districts) which falls into the following categories: acute peptic ulcer, anemia, anti-natal, chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases, hyper tension, pelvic inflammation, renal calculi, upper respiratory tract infection and worm infection. This type of analysis has been possible because of computerized system of clinic management introduced right in the beginning. Also, the mobile clinic has been used in regions which are normally inaccessible and where organized medical facility is not available. This, I consider as the best form of reaching the healthcare to the neediest people in the country. This is a low cost solution with committed healthcare personnel and institutions. I would recommend the Poly Medical Clinic to consider having a mobile clinic moving to different villages located around Kusinara for conducting periodic medicare camps so that the number of patients in remote areas will be benefited. It will also provide large amount of clinical data to the researchers at the Poly Medical Clinic. A combination of mobile clinic and tele-medicine facility linked to hospitals in Lucknow can provide quality medicare to people living in remote areas.

Doctors as a Guru

Since every one of you are involved in removal of the pain of the patient, you can also play a vital role in preventing diseases through proper health education to the patient as well as to his or her relatives and friends through the life style intervention. This can consist of a proper diet with low fat and high fibre, regular aerobic exercise like walking and stress management through Yoga, meditation and other methods. This can help in preventing the recurrence of the disease as well as promote immunity at the national level. When you treat the patient, they become part and parcel of you the surgeons and considers you almost as God. Hence, the patient will definitely accept your health education considering you as the most respected guru. Every patient receives his family members, relatives and friends when he is receiving healthcare in the hospital. That is the occasion when the doctors can give this message of a healthy life style to all of them. If you do this I can foresee that the number of patience coming with health problems will progressively reduce and their quality of life will improve.

Conclusion

For eradicating leprosy, TB, polio, cardio vascular diseases, HIV AIDS we need something important apart from physical resources. That is creative leadership in medical field. Who are the creative leaders? What are the qualities of a creative leader? The creative leadership is exercising the task to change the traditional role from commander to coach, from manager to mentor, from director to delegator and from one who demands respect to one who facilitate self respect. The higher the proportion of creative leaders in the Poly Medical Clinic, the higher the potential for successes in promoting quality health care to the people living in Kusinara region.

With these words, I inaugurate the Poly Medical Clinic and my best wishes to all the members of Wat Thai Kusinara Charitable Trust for success in their mission of removing the pain of the people in this region..

May God bless you.

Five Point Oath for Medical Professionals

1. We the medical professionals realize that we are in God?s mission.

2. We will always give part of our time for treating patients who cannot afford.

3. We will treat at least 20 rural patients in a year at minimum cost by going to rural areas.

4. We will encourage the development of quality indigenous equipments and consumables by making use of them in all our operations assuring the reliability of the products.

5. We will follow the motto ?Let my brain remove the pain of the suffering humanity and bring smiles?.

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