Indira Gandhi Medical College (IGMC) celebrated its Golden Jubilee Year Convocation at Hotel Peterhoff today.The President of India, Shri Pranab Mukherjee presided over the Convocation function. Governor Acharya Devvrat, Chief Minister Shri Virbhadra Singh and Health Minister Shri Kaul Singh Thakur were present on the occasion.The President awarded Gold Medals to meritorious doctors for Master’s and Doctoral Degrees who achieved excellence and were toppers. Amongst those who received Gold Medals from the President were Dr. Ritu Rani, Dr. Meenakshi who received five Gold Medals during her MBBS course, Dr. Neha Singh, Dr. Shipri Sharma and Dr. Tanvi Katoch. The President congratulated all the students who received medals and doctorate degrees on the occasion and especially referred to Dr. Meenakshi in his convocation address, who received five Gold medals.Governor and Chief Minister congratulated the students who had received their graduation, post graduation, post doctoral degrees and medals. Governor Acharya Devvrat in his Convocation address said that modern medicine needs to inculcate the marvels of holistic healing which goes beyond treating the physical symptoms of the disease and need to incorporate yoga in health care system.
"Modern medicine and yoga are scientific and universal in outlook and hence are natural allies bound to come together. Their combination has the potential to provide holistic healthcare that will be boon to the society.” said he. He added that we could lead the world in holistic healthcare by combining the marvels of yoga and modern medicine. He expressed satisfaction that IGMC was already doing research in this aspect in patients of heart disease.The Governor said that convocation was the time for remembrance and looking forward, a time for the entire medical community of the prestigious medical college’s unique contribution to medical education, human health, medicine and human dignity. He added that the students would fondly remember forever, the steps they took to graduate out as healers of human society and contribution of their teachers in shaping their lives."You all will be bestowed with the degrees today and this is not the end but a new beginning to yearn for more wisdom, creativity, knowledge and continuous desire for lifelong learning.", said Acharya Devvrat.The Governor said that we have the rich past and now we have to build the rich future and remain ahead in all the aspects of health care. He added that medical profession was a noble profession where one gets an opportunity to serve thesuffering mankind and said that health professionals should take pride in this noble service to humanity.
Describing the old tradition of Convocation, he said that it was already mentioned in 'Upnishad' that the Convocation was a part of education, where after completion of educational pursuit, the teacher gave some instructions to student for the betterment of the society. The instructions given to the student during convocation at that time included, he should behave honestly and increase the knowledge continuously throughout the life and lastly imparted to others in the society so that everyone could get benefited. He added that it was a right time to think and follow such instructions and rich traditions.
The Governor later authorized the Vice Chancellor HPU, Prof. A.D.N. Bajpai to distribute degrees to the candidates who received the medals and the doctorate degrees. Amongst those who received Doctoral degrees were 97 MBBS, 87 Post Graduates (PG), 6 PG Diploma and 6 super specialty candidates.Speaking on the occasion, Chief Minister, Shri Virbhadra Singh appealed to all the passing out graduate and postgraduate students to serve the suffering humanity with compassion, dedication and love, without any monetary greed and live up to the expectations of common man.He said that it was matter of pride for any institution to complete a long successful journey and celebrate 50 years of its existence.Since its inception in 1966, IGMC has witnessed remarkable progress through augmentation of health care infrastructure in a pursuit of providing specialized health care services to the people of Himachal Pradesh, he said. Besides, it is among few medical colleges in North India having facilities for cardiac catheterization and angiographic services and open heart surgery facility for cardiac patients.
As a Teaching Institution, IGMC had emerged as the centre of excellence as of today, said the Chief Minister, adding that the institution was running post graduate training programme in 20 specialties and was among the few medical colleges in the country providing post doctoral training programme in Cardiology and Cardio Surgery. He said that the institution had produced 2899 graduates and around 1337 post graduates. IGMC is well equipped with state of the art library, virtual lecture theatres to facilitate learning and teaching of undergraduate and postgraduate students, he added. Being the biggest health institution of the State, this institution is the only one after Kerala to design and implement strong state level surveillance system for tracking patients having heart attack and specific quality improvement initiatives were being taken to improve survival rate after heart attack, said Shri Virbhadra Singh.Chief Minister said that HP Tele-stroke project, the first of its kind was started in the state in April 2014 which was smart phone based telemedicine project in India. Under this project timely stroke treatment is provided to the public free of cost at their door steps in far flung and Tribal areas of the State. This project has bagged best e-health initiative award at e-Punjab Summit February 2016, he said.
Keeping in view the growing numbers of patients, 11-storeyed OPD block is under construction and would be completed by 10th August, 2016, he said. The super specialty block proposes to promote quality patient care and start post doctoral training programme in other super specialty departments in future.
IGMC was also playing an important role in providing technical support to State Health Department for strengthening of health care services in the state, said Sh. Virbhadra Singh.He said the State had implemented ambitious ‘’Mukhaya Mantri State Health Care Scheme’’ to cover senior citizens, single women, widows, mid-day meal workers, disabled, contractual, part time and daily wagers. Earlier, Governor Acharya Devvrat and Chief Minister Shri Virbhadra Singh also honoured and welcomed the President. Prof. ADN Bajpai, Vice-chancellor Himachal Pradesh University also honoured the distinguished guests present on the dias and proposed vote of thanks.Registrar, HPU, Shri Pankaj Lalit conducted the proceedings along with Dr. Piyush Kapila.Principal IGMC, Shri KP Chaudhary greeted the President, Governor, Chief Minister and other dignitaries and also administered the Hippocratic Oath.MPP and Power Minister, Shri Sujan Singh Pathania, Forest Minister, Shri Thakur Singh Bharmouri, Excise and Taxation Minister, Shri Prakash Chaudhary, Social Justice and Empowerment Minister, Col. Dr. Dhani Ram Shandil, CPS, Shri Nand Lal, Chief Secretary, Shri VC Pharka, DGP, Shri Sanjay Kumar, Additional Chief Secretaries, Secretaries and the Military, Police and Civil Officers were also present on the occasion amongst faculty, students and doctors of IGMC.