President Patil says strong medical system is must for country's health

Guwahati, Oct 21 : President Pratibha Patil today said that there is an urgent need for augmenting medical institutions in the country.

Laying the foundation stone of the Tezpur Medical College in Sonitpur district of Assam, Patil said the country has at present 271 medical colleges out of which about 31,000 medical graduates pass out every year.

"The healthcare professionals form the backbone of the medical system in the country. Enough number of skilled medical personnel is essential for making affordable medical facilities available to all," she added.

Patil said the education system in our country should not only to produce capable doctors but also sensitize them to national efforts to provide healthcare to all.

Appreciating the Indian Medical Association for their effort to adopt six hundred villages under its project for taking medical fraternity to the villages, Patil said 75 per cent of our medical facilities are located in urban centres while 70 per cent of our population lives in villages where medical facilities are limited.

The President said doctors should have a sense of compassion and maintain the highest standards of medical ethics.

Assam Governor Shiv Charan Mathur, Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi, State Assembly Speaker Tanka Bahadur Rai and Health Minister Dr. Himanta Biswa Sharma were also present on the occasion.

The new medical college to be built in 35 acres of land at Tumuki area, near Tezpur at a cost of around 160 crore rupees, is targeted to be completed by the year 2011.

The Tezpur Medical will be built by the Assam Government at a cost of around 160 crore rupees at Tumuki village, 20 kilometers away from Tezpur.

This will be the fifth medical college in Assam. The State Government has allocated 35 acres of land in Tumuki to set up the medical college.

Later, President Patil is scheduled address a Sainik Sanmilan at Gajraj Corps Headquarters in Tezpur.

After spending three days in Assam, the President will proceed to Meghalaya on Wednesday, where she is expected to attend the centenary celebration of the Laban Bengali Girls Higher Secondary School.

The President will also inaugurate the Baljek Airport in West Garo Hills district of Meghalaya.

ANI