BHOPAL: Gender, caste, regionalism or religion should not come in the way of healthcare and treatment, President Ramnath Kovind said in Bhopal on Saturday.
The President is on a three-day visit to Madhya Pradesh and will visit temple town Ujjain on Sunday. Kovind inaugurated the Arogya Manthan programme, which is being organised with the Ayush department, on Saturday. Governor Mangubhai Patel, chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and Ayush minister Ramkishore Kavre were also at the event.
“Sarve bhavantu sukhinah, sarve santu niraamaya (May all be happy, all be free from disease),” said Kovind.
“On one end of the spectrum, India is a preferred medical tourism destination and on the other hand there is room for improvement in the health sector. It is a challenge for the country. The Union government’s 2017 national health policy aims to provide healthcare for all,” he said.
He urged people to be sympathetic towards the medical fraternity. He lauded doctors who serve society selflessly and noted that many of them voluntarily serve in tribal and rural areas.
He cited the example of Padma Shree Dr Leela Joshi who has been working for more than two decades to reduce the mortality rate due to anaemia in the tribal, rural and urban slums of Ratlam district.
Later, Kovind dedicated health infrastructure projects worth nearly Rs 400 crore. At a function at Lal Parade Grounds, Kovind will perform the Bhoomi-Poojan for 10 urban health institution buildings costing about Rs 182 crore and inaugurated newly constructed buildings of 4 health institutions costing Rs 72 crore.
