Wednesday, February 26, 2014

It’s time...IMA

It’s time...
The profession is going through a period of crisis and is facing huge challenges. A strong and united IMA is the need of the hour. We have to evolve mechanisms to effectively combat the onslaught on Modern medicine.
Criminal case and conviction: Weren’t we shocked to hear the conviction of Doctors and paramedics on criminal charges for alleged Medical negligence. Though higher court later stayed the order, the agony caused to us and the threat of such incidents in future looms large. We have to work on effective legislation protecting Medical personnel   from criminal liability for any act during the course of Medical practice and galvanise all our efforts to nullify any such attempts until an effective law takes  shape.
Clinical establishment act: The Governemnt is enacting the CE act for the state. We have to effectively intervene to ensure that it suits the interest of public health and aids smooth functioning of Medical institutions in the State.
Consumer forums: Consumer litigations against the profession are on the rise primarily due to misunderstandings and commercial interests. We have to evolve strategies to address this growing menace both through effective legal mechanisms and better patient care, so that doctors can fearlessly practice medicine and give society its due.
Hospital attacks: Though we managed to get the Hospital protection bill enacted, still much needs to be done. On one hand we have to strive to get the act effectively implemented and on the other prevent onslaughts on hospitals both by consolidating our strength and through effective mechanisms to win public trust and co-operation.
Medical practice: Modern medicine institutions, personnel, drugs and even vaccines are being attacked by certain quarters with vested interest. We have to fight this trend with all might and save Modern medicine since it’s the only system which can safeguard public health.
Myxopathy: Our strong fights during late 80’s has kept unscientific mixing of systems at bay in our state, though the threat is looming large as most of the other states and even the Union ministry is encouraging this. Encroachment into modern medicine by other systems will not only deprive us of our exclusive right to practice modern medicine but also will be hugely detrimental to public health. We have to strongly oppose all moves for myxopathy.
Medical University: It’s quite sad that Modern medicine is forced into the same university as other systems in our state. This paves way for discrimination and deprives us of independent growth as the resources are to be shared amongst all systems which leaves little for our scientific system. We are denied true representation in academic bodies as well to the extend that MCI member from the University is elected by a body consisiting more of Non Modern medicine doctors. We need mono faculty Medical University.
New Medical colleges: Adequate studies have to be carried out on the need, infrastructure and quality of new Medical colleges to ensure due standard in Medical education and practice. IMA will have to champion this cause.
Public relation: We have to urgently address genuine public concerns about medical practice. We need to establish Public grievance redressel forums to address their complaints and provide effective remedy. We should implement projects like the ‘I care’ ( IMA initiative for better patient care), where genuine patient care methods are adopted.
Public service: We are conducting numerous camps and education activities for public. We need to extend them to all branches and specifically implement campaigns and programmes  against lifestyle diseases, alcoholism and to ensure health of women, children and the under privileged. IMA blood banks and palliative care programmes will have to be widely implemented.
Public health: Declining standards of public health is an area of huge concern. Epidemics are striking with devastating effects. Life style diseases, alcoholism and gender discrimination are also posing huge challenges.  IMA as the largest scientific body should chip in during this hour of public health crisis through research, education and health intervention.
Ethics: IMA, in consultation with it’s members, should ensure the highest ethical standards in Medical practice. Our ethics bodies have to be strengthened and decentralised to reach every branch for effective implementation of ethical guidelines.
Health policy: We need to use all our resources to get a scientific health policy formulated and implemented in our state in tune with the guidelines provided by IMA.
MCI election: Our’s is one of the few states were member to MCI has not been elected from the graduates quota. We should get the election process initiated and get the most eligible candidate elected on our behalf.
Government Doctors: Government is ignoring many genuine grievances of Doctors serving in the Government sector. IMA has to support their association to ensure that their legitimate demands like humane working hours achieved.
National leadership: Only strong and united State branch can win our right for leadership at the National level. We can definitely achieve this through our united efforts.
Schemes: The schemes being run by IMA need a stable leadership for both its stability and vibrancy. We should trust them in safe hands.
Academic wings: We need to tap the talents of our brilliant academicians and enable AMS and CGP to craft excellent academic programmes to enrich Modern medicine and aid proper medical care.
Student wing: Problems of medical students and young doctors should be adequately addressed through mass contact programmes. We need to get them organised and find solutions to the numerous problems they face including job placement, higher education and opportunities for safe practice.
Women’s wing: IMA women’s wing should be patronised in all branches and supported to enable them ensure utmost care to society especially to women and children.
Recreation: Doctors club at IMA headquarters need to be beefed up with facilities both for its members and guests visiting the headquarters. IMA state should support more club activities and entertainments in all our branches. Schemes encouraging family meets and picnics, film clubs and cultural get together will enable better mental health of members and families.
                Only a strong and united IMA can achieve all this. It’s high time we galvanise all our efforts and ensure glory of medical profession and practice.
JAI HIND, JAI IMA

 Sincerely your's,
Dr Sreejith N Kumar

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