Doctors play an important role in our life. The National Doctors’ Day is being celebrated since 1991. It is necessary to raise awareness about the role, and importance of doctors in our lives. This day is an opportunity for us to thank doctors for what they do for patients and communities that they work in.

The first of July is National Doctor’s Day in India. First established by the government in 1991, the date was chosen to commemorate the great Dr. Bidhan Chandra Roy.

Dr. Roy was the second chief minister of West Bengal as well as a renowned physician. He is the recipient of the highest civilian award, the Bharat Ratna. The Indian Government decided to honor his memory by making his birth and death anniversary as our National Doctors’ Day.

The theme of the year

Indian Medical Association has announced the theme of this year’s Doctor’s Day to be ‘Zero tolerance to violence against doctors and clinical establishments’.

A truly apt theme considering recent events, it will surely serve to increase awareness about the issue.

Save the Doctors

On 10th June 2019, two junior doctors in Nil Ratan Sircar (NRS) hospital in Kolkata were physically assaulted by the relatives of a deceased patient.

This incident initiated protests by doctors in West Bengal and spread all over the nation.

On 17th June, the Indian Medical Association (IMA) announced a nationwide medical strike in response to these events.

The action was taken against the assailants and the West Bengal chief minister has suggested a 10 point security system to be implemented in hospitals.

Reassured with the promises of the state, doctors in Kolkata ended their week-long strike. Though these events still beg the question – if the demand of the doctors was simply a matter of a safe environment to work in, should it not have been addressed earlier on in the protest? Now that it has been addressed, most have resumed work although there is still a level of fear in their minds.

Change in the medical fraternity

There was a time when doctors were regarded as highly as God in our country. This is understandable considering our life and health is in their hands, and they, in turn, are under oath to only practice for the good of man.

Certainly, we have our small share of unethical doctors getting booked for negligence nowadays. These cases undermine the profession up to a point where patients are afraid to trust.

But India is the producer of scores of skilled and ethical healthcare workers who all have had a hand in making our healthcare system towards the top.

It is good to know that the awareness regarding workplace safety for doctors has spread to this extent. Doctors carry a great responsibility today, whether or not we realize it. Let us join hands in celebrating the lives of some of the most sincere and hardworking people in our society.