9 honoured with Vaidya Ratna award for contribution to medical field

MYSURU: City doctors celebrated Doctors’ Day in a significant manner on Wednesday. Mysore Clinical Society (MCS) awarded nine doctors with ‘Vaidya Ratna’ award for their achievement and contributions towards the medical field.
Inaugurating the event organized by MCS, city police commissioner B Dayananda lauded medicos for their efforts towards public healthcare.Dayananda said that in recent years, medical and legal issues have changed and several new ones have emerged. The police department is ready to organize a workshop with the help of MCS, he said. Mysuru is a hub for yoga, tradition and culture and should also emerge as hub of health sector, he added.
Earlier, MCS president Dr C Sharath Kumar had urged the police commissioner to support the workshop. Speaking on the occasion, the doctor said that though the medical profession is noble and serves the public, several doctors, nurses, hospitals and clinics across the country have been facing several threats for no fault.
“Doctors commit mistakes but it’s never intentional. Mistakes happen due to work overload,” he justified adding that no relatives of victims or patients by themselves attack hospitals or doctors, but they are provoked by antisocial elements and few organizations who mislead the public to cause harm.
He said that Doctors’ Day is celebrated every year on July 1 to mark the birth and death anniversary of noted physician Dr Bidhan Chandra Roy (Dr B C Roy). He was a man who served the public even when he was serving as chief minister of West Bengal, said Dr Sharath.
Though the state government has drafted Karnataka Doctors Protection Act to protect medicos, many doctors do not claim or register complaints when untoward incidents occur to avoid risks. He called upon doctors to fight legally against culprits. The government and law are with medical professionals who work for public welfare, he added.
After honouring distinguished doctors, University of Mysore (UoM) Vice-Chancellor K S Rangappa said that the doctors involving in research activities will be a great boon for society.
Awareness programmes among public on various health disorders and about precautionary measures would keep many diseases away. The awareness programmes are need of the hour, pointed out Rangappa.
Nine doctors — Dr K B Gurumurthy, Dr N Rachegowda, Dr S M Prabhulingaswamy, Dr Veedavathi, Dr S B Vasanth Kumar, Dr G M Vamadev, Dr C Krishniah, Dr T S Vasan and Dr K Murugesh — were awarded with Vaidya Ratna award.