APICON-2024: Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar urges medical fraternity to uphold ethical standards

New Delhi: Vice President of India, Jagdeep Dhankhar delivered a stirring keynote speech at the 79th Annual Conference of the Association of Physicians of India (APICON-2024), urging the medical fraternity to uphold ethical standards in healthcare and education.

Speaking to over 10,000 doctors at the inaugural session of APICON-24, the Vice President expressed his concern over the commercialization of healthcare and education, which he said had eroded the noble ideals of these sectors. He appealed to the doctors to follow the principles of equity and fairness in providing healthcare services, and to resist the temptation of monetary gains.

The Vice President also emphasized the need for ethical standards in the medical profession, saying that any compromise on ethics is unacceptable. He urged the doctors to maintain the highest standards of professionalism and integrity, comparable only to those of lawyers, and to ensure that the patients receive 5-star services in hospitals.

APICON-24, under the leadership of Organizing Secretary Dr Rajesh Upadhaya, is hosting this historic event in Delhi after 21 years. Dr. Upadhaya expressed his gratitude and pride for being the leader of the organizing committee of APICON, the largest and most prestigious conference of physicians in Asia. He also thanked Vice President Dhankhar for gracing the event with his presence, adding grandeur and dignity to the occasion.

The Vice President also highlighted the importance of preventive healthcare and fitness, and the role of doctors in achieving a ‘Fit India’ and contributing to a ‘Viksit Bharat @2047.’ He praised the medical fraternity for its dedication and sacrifice during the COVID-19 pandemic, stating, “For patients, a doctor is next to God.”

The Vice President also lauded India’s achievements in medical education and infrastructure, citing the increase in MBBS and PG seats, as well as the growth of super-specialty hospitals, which had made advanced treatments accessible and affordable to the masses. He said that India had emerged as a hub of medical excellence and medical tourism, and called for professionalism and ethical practices in dealing with patients from various countries, saying that this would enhance India’s global image and reputation.

Dr Upadhaya also emphasized the theme of this year’s APICON, ‘Empathy in Medicine,’ which he said reflected the core value and essence of the medical profession. He stressed the role of empathy in understanding and sharing the feelings of the patients, and in enhancing the healing process and improving the patient outcomes. He also said that empathy fostered trust and rapport between the doctors and the patients, and reduced the chances of conflict and litigation. He urged all the doctors to practice empathy in their daily interactions with the patients, and to connect with them emotionally as well as intellectually. He said that empathy played a pivotal role in healing the people, and in making the world a better place.

As India emerges as a hub of medical excellence and medical tourism, Vice President Dhankhar called for professionalism and ethical practices in dealing with patients from various countries, highlighting the positive impact on India’s global image.

The Vice President Dhankhar commended the medical fraternity for its commitment to humanity, stating, “No profession is as respected and glorified as the medical profession.” He reiterated the need for doctors to embrace ethical practices, emphasizing their critical role in India’s economic development and global leadership in healthcare.