24% Doctors Treat 76% Rural Population 

He was speaking after participating in the World Doctors' Day programme organised by Mukhyaprana Cultural Academy at Dr. Shivarathri Rajendra Bhavana in JSS Hospital premises, here on Friday. Out of the 950 additional seats, 725 would be filled through CET and the rest of the seats would be filled up by private colleges, he said. Only about 24% of the doctors are treating 76% of the people who live in villages and 74% doctors are treating 35% of the people living in urban areas. We should express our gratitude to the doctors serving in rural areas, he said.

There is only one doctor for 1,731 people and as such permission has been given to start more medical colleges. It has now become common among the people in the world that doctors are agents of death and only mint money. But such a bad situation has not yet arrived in our country and it would not be a surprise if this 'culture' also entered our country, he added. The doctors in the past used to thoroughly check the patients and they created a self-confidence in them, he said and resented that the present day doctors are not behaving in a fare manner with the patients under the guise of various tests.

Public health has been included as a fundamental service in the 47th column of the Indian Constitution and as such, the doctors should behave in a friendly manner with the patients. The present day food articles contains poisonous substances and hence the doctors, in addition to treating the patients should advise them about food consumption. Today, we are observing Dr. B.C. Roy's birthday as doctors day and Dr. Roy was a doctor, Social Worker as well as a politician. He was a punctual man despite his various political engagements, he said and added that one should learn about punctuality from him.

Super Laws

The doctors have been increasingly attacked over the years out of misunderstanding and the government would bring a super law to prevent this, he said. This law would be presented during the next Budget session and the doctors would get protection as criminal case can be booked against those assaulting persons. The serial blasts that occurred in Bangalore is condemnable and the Government has enough strength to act against those who disturb peace and communal harmony and also arrest the terrorists, he said.

Dr. B.N. Jayaram, Sex change Sugeon; Dr. P. Haridas Upadya, Cardiologist; Dr. Rueben Prakash, Dr. Doddanarayanappa, Dr. D. Thimmaiah and Dr. T.S. Bharadwajan were felicitated by presenting Vaidyabhushan' award on this occasion. Sri Sommeshwaranatha Swamiji of Adichunchanagiri Mutt, former Mayor Vasu, CFTRI Director Dr. V. Prakash and Academy President M.N. Venkatesh were present.