‘Doctors Have Bigger Role Than Govt’ in Health: President Murmu

• President Droupadi Murmu graced the first convocation ceremony of AIIMS, Kalyani, on July 30, 2025.
• She urged graduating doctors to embrace social responsibility, emphasizing, “Doctors have a bigger role than the government and other stakeholders” in controlling health problems.
• The President advised doctors to follow Dr. B.C. Roy’s example of providing free medical services and to adopt healthy lifestyles as an example for others.

GG News Bureau
Kalyani, 30th July: President Droupadi Murmu on Wednesday graced the inaugural convocation ceremony of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Kalyani. Addressing the graduating students, the President underscored the pivotal role of doctors in national development and urged them to uphold high standards of social responsibility and personal conduct.=

Speaking on the occasion, President Murmu highlighted India’s significant strides in public health since independence, noting that average life expectancy has more than doubled from 32 to approximately 70 years. She commended the extraordinary progress in vaccination, which has led to the eradication of many diseases, including trachoma, declared free in India last year. Despite these achievements, she stressed that challenges like diabetes, heart ailments, and obesity persist, where young doctors have a decisive role to play, even beyond government and other stakeholders. “Doctors have a bigger role than the government and other stakeholders in controlling health problems like diabetes, heart ailments and obesity,” she stated.

Addressing the first batch of AIIMS, Kalyani, the President reminded them of their unique position as the institute’s senior-most alumni. She emphasized their crucial role in shaping the institution’s identity and future. Recognizing the rapid advancements in medical science, President Murmu advised the students to be lifelong learners, continuously updating their knowledge on new research and medical methodologies.

The President paid tribute to Dr. Bidhan Chandra Roy, the visionary who laid the foundation stone of Kalyani city. She recalled that Dr. B.C. Roy, even during his long tenure as Chief Minister of West Bengal, continued to provide free medical services to patients. President Murmu urged students, teachers, and administrators of AIIMS Kalyani to strive to make it an “Institute of National Pride” and encouraged them to emulate Dr. B.C. Roy’s example of serving the poor and deprived without charge.

Furthermore, President Murmu advised doctors to adopt a lifestyle that serves as an example for the general populace. While acknowledging genetic predispositions, she asserted that most health problems can be largely prevented or managed through proper diet and lifestyle. She urged doctors to integrate lifestyle-related advice into their consultations, noting that a doctor’s guidance carries significant weight, and their personal example even more so.