Ahead of IMA elections, medical fraternity shares its expectations from new president

Healthy and improved doctor-patient relationship, active female participation and a firm say in decision making process in major medical initiatives, among others are on the expectations list of the medical fraternity, from the new Indian Medical Association (IMA) president, ahead of the IMA polls scheduled to be held on Sunday.

Healthy and improved doctor-patient relationship, active female participation and a firm say in decision making process in major medical initiatives, among others are on the expectations list of the medical fraternity, from the new Indian Medical Association (IMA) president, ahead of the IMA polls scheduled to be held on Sunday.

HT interacted with the medical fraternity in the city to know what things would be on their priority list from the new president. The winning candidates will take charge of the office in 2016.

Arun Mitra, ENT surgeon, said, “The individual as well as combined issues confronted by the medical fraternity must be resolved on priority basis. For example, there have been instances in the past when patients and their families have turned violent out of emotional outburst. They need to understand that doctors are not some superhuman beings and authorities can come up with concrete steps to deal with this issue.”

He said, “Sensitisation (awareness drives) must be created among residents on those lines will quite likely draw positive outcomes in future, besides it will also assist in bridging the gap between doctor and patient.”

Mitra said, “Healthy investments in the public health sector can play a pivotal role in helping poor get free treatment, and in changing the face of the entire healthcare system in the district. More and more woman participation must be encouraged in medical sector.”

Dr Narotam Dewan from Dewan Hospital, said, “Paying capacity of most of the patients does not match with that of the medical treatment offered by the private healthcare system in the city. The newly elected candidates must take up this issue on priority and make specific provision for the same.”

He said, “Secondly, medical community in the city need to be more united rather than operating as individual units. This will solely resolve several small and big issues currently standing in the way of providing quality healthcare services to the city residents.”

Alka Dogra, skin specialist, who runs her own clinic, said, “Recent spate of events in medical fraternity has put it in a bad light. So, it is for the functionary such as IMA to be more fair and transparent in dealing.

There is no denying that there is black sheep in every profession, but putting the blame on entire medical fraternity would not be justifiable. Therefore, the newly elected members must take necessary steps to portray a positive image of the doctors working in city.”