India faces terrible shortage of doctors: Oscar

Chennai, Oct 28 (UNI) Union Minister of State for Labour and Employment Oscar Fernandes today said India was facing terrible shortage of doctors and asserted that there was a need for the development of Science in the country.

Delivering the Valedictory address of the Annual conference, organised by the Federation of Doctors, Hospitals and Healthcare Industry (FEDHHI) at SRM Dental College Hospital, SRM University, here this evening, he said: ''we are producing so many doctors.

Yet there is a shortage''.

''Recently we were to recruit about 80 specialists, but only eight joined the ESI'', he said and exhorted the students to develop Science, which provides a lot of scope for development.

Talking about Stem cells research and DNA research, he said ''Time is not far off when we hear about a research conducted by an Indian doctor getting a Nobel prize for DNA, which can recoup lost cell or dead cell and he will be named Chiranjeevi.'' This was the length at which the Science was growing, he said and added that India and China had distinct advantage on Science and together they could compete with the rest of the world. ''Science is our strong point.'' Mr Fernandes said the kind of exposure the youth were having now, like the internet, they could get answer not to one question but to many.

He said during the freedom movement students were in the fore front when Mahatma Gandhi led the 'Dandi march' leading to India getting Independence. The same youth now could shape the country by making it a preferred destination for medical tourism and other spheres.

Tamil Nadu Minorities Economic Development Corporation Limited Chairman Fr Xavier Arulraj said the TNMEDCL would provide scholarships to 399 Christian and 366 Muslim students for PG, UG professional and Dental courses. From next year, the TNMEDCL would provide educational loans at a low interest rate of three per cent.

''Papers are being moved in the Tamil Nadu government and an announcement will soon come from Chief Minister M Karunanidhi in this regard'', he added.

Stanley Medical College former Dean Dr S K Rajan was conferred the late Dr M Channa Reddy and FEDHHI award, for his service to society and achievement in the presence of SRM University Chancellor T R Pachamuthu and Vice-Chancellor Prof P Sathyanarayan.

UNI