DEDICATED DOCTORS NEEDED FOR SOCIETY

Doctors are considered next to god as they can give a fresh lease of life even to those who have lost all hope of recovery after contracting a disease or being involved in an accident. There is a suggestion by an old poet in Telugu that one should not construct a house at a place where the services of doctors are not available, which stresses the importance of a doctor in one’s life.
India observes July 1st as Doctors Day, in an attempt to recognise their invaluable services and vital role in society. It is also observed to make medical professionals get closer to the people and serve them with dedication.
National Doctors Day is observed to honour the legendary physician and West Bengal's second Chief Minister Dr.Bidhan Chandra Roy, whose birth and death anniversary areon the same day. The Central Governmentestablished National Doctors Day in 1991. Roy was born on July 1st, 1882 and he passed away on the same date in 1962. A renowned freedom fighter, Roy was honoured with the Nation’s highest civilian award - Bharat Ratna- on February 4th, 1961, a year before his death.
Doctors Day is observed on different dates in different countries. For the first time, Doctors Day was observed in March 1933 in the US state of Georgia. Initially, on this day, special greeting cards were sent to the Physicians, and flowers were placed on the graves of dead doctors.
However, the image of the noble profession has suffered a dent with the professionals becoming more commercial. In the wake of the increasing attacks by the people on ‘negligent’ doctors and nursing staff in the country, the theme of National Doctors Day 2019 is “zero tolerance to violence against doctors and clinical establishment.” Every year the theme is announced by the Indian Medical Association. On the occasion, Safe Fraternity Week will be celebrated from July 1st to July 8, 2019.
Doctors should always bear in mind that they need to listen to the patients’ grievances with keen attention to help them overcome inhibitions and build trust, which would in turn help in making the right diagnosis and prescribing appropriate treatment. The time a doctor spends with a patient also helps in partial recovery. Any patient comes to a doctor with a belief that he can minimise his pain/disease and the doctor should try to live up to the expectations. The doctor should keep all the information about a patient confidential.
In this age when the world has shrunk into the palm, the doctors should do something more than technology can do. So doctors, it is your responsibility to gain the trust of the patients and provide quality treatment. On Doctors Day, let all the doctors take a pledge to dedicate their services to those who need them the most. And let patients make a united decision to respect the medical profession and to understand that the Doctor does his best but not every outcome can be predicted.