Healthcare is nation building mission: Vice-President C.P. Radhakrishnan

Vice-President C.P. Radhakrishnan said on Thursday that healthcare is not merely a service sector, but a nation-building mission.

Addressing gatherings at the inauguration of KMCH Institute of Neurosciences and OPD block and KMCH Medical College Postgraduate Institute at Kovai Medical Center and Hospital (KMCH) and golden jubilee celebrations of Sri Ramakrishna Hospital and Silver Jubilee of Sri Ramakrishna Dental College and Hospital in the city, Mr. Radhakrishnan said these institutions stand as powerful examples of how quality healthcare, medical education, and compassion together strengthen the nation.

The Vice-President said that private medical institutions, along with government institutions, will play a major role in India’s journey towards Healthy India and Viksit Bharat by 2047.

The Ayushman Bharat scheme has emerged as the world’s largest government-funded healthcare programme, providing free medical coverage to nearly 50 crore citizens and substantially reducing the financial burden on poor families. He also highlighted the establishment of Health and Wellness Centres across the country, strengthening preventive and primary healthcare, including mental health, elder care, and the management of non-communicable diseases.

Managing Trustee of SNR Sons Charitable Trust R. Sundar (second left) presenting a memento to Vice-President of India C.P. Radhakrishnan (centre) in Coimbatore on Thursday.
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SPECIAL ARRAGEMENT

Addressing the shortage of medical professionals remains a national priority, Mr. Radhakrishnan said and added that MBBS seats have increased significantly in the last decade, with plans to add 75,000 more seats by 2029. Over 300 new medical colleges have been established across the country in the last decade, ensuring that medical education reaches beyond major metropolitan centres.

Speaking at KMCH, Mr. Radhakrishnan said neurological disorders pose a growing global public health challenge. He described the new institute, equipped with advanced neuro-navigation and robotic surgery facilities, as a timely and visionary initiative that brings world-class healthcare closer to the people.

The new block has six self-contained centers of excellence. The postgraduate institute will offer M.D. and M.S. courses across 10 disciplines including Pathology, Paediatrics, Anesthesiology and Radiology. KMCH Chairman and Managing Director Nalla G. Palaniswami, Vice-President of the hospital Thavamani D. Palaniswami and Executive Director Arun Palaniswami were present.

Presiding over the celebrations organised by the SNR Sons Charitable Trust at CODISSIA Trade Fair Complex, the Vice-President lauded Sri Ramakrishna Hospital’s Guinness World Record in 2016, when over 13,206 organ donation pledges were collected in just eight hours. He unveiled commemorative logos for Sri Ramakrishna Hospital and Sri Ramakrishna Dental College and Hospital and presented awards to doctors and staff members for their exemplary performance.

Managing Trustee of SNR Sons Charitable Trust R. Sundar, Joint Managing Trustee S. Narendran, Trustees V. Ramakrishna and D. Lakshminarayanaswamy, Chief Executive Officer C.V. Ramkumar, Chief Administrative Officer D. Maheshkumar, Medical Director S. Rajagopal and Medical Superintendent S. Alagappan were present.