The first convocation ceremony of Raipur AIIMS was held on Tuesday. The chief guest of the ceremony, Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare Dr. Bharti Praveen Pawar called upon the new doctors to discharge their duties with service. He also appealed to make every possible effort to make AIIMS an excellent centre for research along with treatment.
Dr. Bharti was addressing the first convocation ceremony of All India Institute of Medical Sciences as the chief guest on Tuesday. On this occasion, he also inaugurated the auditorium and new dental OPD of AIIMS. He said that after 2014, MBBS seats increased by 95 percent and PG seats increased by 110 percent in the country. In the first convocation of AIIMS, 850 students were awarded medical and nursing degrees.
Addressing the students of MBBS and B.Sc (Nursing), Dr. Bharti Praveen Pawar congratulated all the students for reaching this new milestone after competing at the national level. He said that after the completion of one phase of the student life, the convocation marks the beginning of the second phase of providing special services to the society. He urged all the graduating students to provide universal medical services so that even the poor can get treatment facilities.
He said that as compared to 387 medical colleges in the year 2014, now 665 medical colleges have been established. With this, MBBS seats have increased to 95 percent and PG seats to 110 percent. He said that after the availability of world class facilities, now patients from other countries are also reaching the country. He said that the number of health and wellness centres has reached 1.5 lakh to take health facilities to the villages. These are being linked with experts through tele-consultation.
In a short span of ten years, Dr. Bharti appointed Director Prof. appreciating the progress of AIIMS under the direction of (Dr.) Nitin M. Nagarkar, said that the institute is becoming a national centre for quality medical education as well as research. AIIMS and IIT Bhilai are working together in the direction of medical technology. Along with this, efforts are also being made to create an innovation cluster in Chhattisgarh. Appreciating this cooperation of both the institutions, he called upon to take its benefits to the common people. He praised the teachers of AIIMS for these innovative efforts.
Dr. Pawar said that AIIMS has provided medical services to 32 lakh patients since its inception. Transplant facilities have also been started in the institute, yet institutes like AIIMS will have to take initiative with the health department of the state to cure traditional diseases. He also urged the degree holders to contribute in this direction. Dr. Pawar also suggested AIIMS to conduct research on AYUSH and major diseases found in Chhattisgarh.
Earlier, President Prof. George A D’Souza, attributing the success to the best medical teachers, said that soon after more doctors in super specialties would be available, AIIMS would be able to provide better medical facilities. Director Prof. (Dr.) Nitin M. Nagarkar while presenting the last ten years progress report of the institute said that medical education, research and better patient facilities are being provided in the institute.
At the convocation, 850 students were awarded degrees. These include 425 MBBS students from five batches from 2012 to 2016, 292 female students from five batches of B.Sc (Nursing) from 2013 to 2017, 120 students of MD-MS-MDS, eight students of MSc Nursing and Master of Public Health.
