{"id":9222,"date":"2017-10-25T09:19:07","date_gmt":"2017-10-25T08:19:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.wma.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/Valedictory-speech-Desai-Chicago.pdf"},"modified":"2017-10-25T09:19:07","modified_gmt":"2017-10-25T08:19:07","slug":"valedictory-speech-desai-chicago-2","status":"inherit","type":"attachment","link":"https:\/\/www.wma.net\/es\/noticias-y-prensa\/speeches-talks-interviews\/valedictory-speech-desai-chicago-2\/","title":{"rendered":"Valedictory speech-Desai-Chicago"},"author":17,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":[],"acf":[],"description":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

-1-
\nVALEDICTORY ADDRESS
\nLadies and Gentleman,
\nIt was on 21st October, 2016 that with all humility I had the profound privilege of
\ntaking over the reins of the prestigious World Medical Association as its
\nPresident. In my presidential address delivered thereat, I had flagged of
\nimportant and vital issues in various domains, which needed effective, prompt
\nand timely tackling in the larger interest of medical profession, professionals and
\nlegitimate rights and interests of men and mankind beyond considerations of
\ndiscrimination and differentiation.
\nMy mission as WMA President brought out very clearly from the word go was to
\nbring to the centre stage the core issue of \u2018professional autonomy\u2019, which is
\nparamount and under any circumstances is not open to any concession,
\ncondonation, compromise or marginalization in any form, mode and manner.
\nIn addition the other important issues that I had flagged pertained to
\naugmentation of the membership of World Medical Association, emphasis on
\nmental health, meaningful incorporation of the core concepts of equality, justice
\nand equity.
\nFurther, bringing to fore the inevitable necessity of zero tolerance against sexual
\nviolence, gender selection, cuts commission and kick-backs being resorted to by
\nthe medical professionals bringing shame to the profession as a whole was of
\nequal priority and importance. Sex selective abortion was yet another important
\naspect brought out for the purposes of desired advocacy so as to generate impact
\nof consequence.
\n-2-
\nAnother arena which was emphasized upon was the concept of \u2018World Health
\nKeeping Force\u2019 to be invoked by the desired initiative on part of all the National
\nMedical Associations across the world on the lines of \u2018World Peace Keeping
\nForce\u2019, which have proven to be of relevance for its targeted objectives and
\npurposes.
\nAt the second conference organized by World Veterinary Association and World
\nMedical Association held in Japan on 10th and 11th November, 2016 on the
\nthematic concept of \u2018One health\u2019 it was emphasized unequivocally that concept
\nthat integrates the meaningful rendering of health to men and animals alike
\nalong with environmental and plant health alone would genuinely cater to the
\ncause of life and living in the world.
\nThe mandate of Zero Tolerance in terms of the needs for invocation of a binding
\npolicy against sexual violence, gender selection has been emphasized in the
\nkeynote address delivered at the NATCON-2016 organized by Indian Medical
\nAssociation at Amritsar, Punjab on 27th and 28th December, 2016.
\nOn 14th January, 2017 the Annual Scientific Meeting of the Chinese Medical
\nAssociation organized at Nanjing, China was inaugurated whereat the issue of
\nmembership of China and that of Taiwan in World Medical Association also came
\nto be discussed at length with the counterparts.
\nIn this very vein the issue of sex selective abortions was raised in the Annual
\nConference of FOGSI held at Ahmedabad in State of Gujarat in India on 26th
\nJanuary, 2017, which was attended by well over 12,000 Gynecologists drawn
\nfrom different parts of the India and many other countries. Equal emphasis was
\nlaid pertaining to the issues of sex selection and also that of maternal mortality.
\n-3-
\nAn International Summit on the vital theme of \u2018Air Pollution\u2019 organized by Indian
\nMedical Association was inaugurated on 10th March, 2017, in the august presence
\nof Dr. Yokokura the President of JMA and President Elect of WMA, whereat the
\nsignificance of environmental health linked with Air Pollution was brought out in
\nall its dimensions and manifestations and various advisories on the said count
\ncame to be generated for their necessary incorporation in the policy making
\nframe by the various countries.
\nThe emphasis on focused inculcation of the core concept of equality, justice and
\nequity has been emphasized during the 12th World Conference on Bio-Ethics,
\nMedical Ethics, and health laws held on March, 21-23, 2017 at Cyprus, so also it
\nwas brought into focus that the medical students anywhere in the world should
\nnot be subjected to any discrimination of any type resulting in any inequality
\nissues. They need to be dealt by the appropriate authorities with firm hand in
\nsuch a manner which should invoke the required deterrence on such issues.
\nAt the Council meeting at Zambia on 20th April, 2017 addressing the media at a
\npress conference it was made known that it is imperative that the budgetary
\nallocations for health on a priority basis is substantially increased so as to alter
\nthe health scenario in a positive and pragmatic way in the larger interest of the
\ncitizens of Zambia to give them meaningful life commensurate with legitimate
\nexpectations.
\nIt was at the International congress on Heart Hypertension and Diabetes\u201d
\norganised by Heart Foundation of India held at Dubai on 5th May, 2017 that the
\nneed of affordable tertiary healthcare was emphasized so that it is within the
\nreach of even marginalized section of the impoverished society. In terms of this
\nvery initiative and venture of ensuring \u2018affordable healthcare\u2019, through
\n-4-
\nappropriate policy interventions by the Government of India and the initiative of
\nIndian Medical Association has resulted in the required \u2018cost reduction\u2019 by the
\nGovernment of India, vide an appropriate \u2018capping\u2019 with reference to \u2018knee
\nreplacement operations\u2019 and \u2018coronary stents\u2019, which has brought the same into
\nan \u2018affordable zone\u2019, to be within the reach of the common man which was
\nillusive hitherto.
\nThe initiatives successfully ventured into by the Indian Medical Association
\nhaving paid significant meaningful dividends need to be replicated by the various
\nNational Medical Associations of the Member countries to reap similar dividends
\nfor the similarly placed, which in my opinion turns out to be a real service to the
\ncause of humanity.
\nOn 8th May at the 10th Geneva Conference on \u2018Person Centric Medicine\u2019 it was
\ncategorically emphasised that scientific evidence based medicine should be
\nperson centric in the best interest of the patient and precisely the same would be
\nthe face of the future medicine for the men and mankind in offing.
\nOn 21st May, 2017 had the privilege of interacting with the office bearers of
\nCommon Wealth Medical Association, WONCA and Junior Doctors Network in
\nUnited Nation Office during the World Health Professionals Alliance meeting
\nwhereat important issues pertaining to professional autonomy and ethical
\nprofessional practice came to be discussed in their various manifestations and
\nrequired initiatives to be initiated by the various countries in terms of required
\npolicies in consultation with their respective National Medical Associations.
\nThe practice amongst the profession to resort to \u2018kick-backs – cuts and
\ncommission\u2019 in grossest possible breach of ethicality, morality and value based
\nconsiderations has been condemned at all forums in no uncertain terms and
\n-5-
\naccordingly the Indian Medical Association has come out with an explicit policy
\nmade known to all concerned to the effect that those members found to be
\nindulging in the same, by invocation of disciplinary jurisdiction their
\nmembership of the Association would be summarily terminated. The same has
\nresulted in appropriate signals reaching the professional community and the
\ndeterrent impact thereto is decipherable.
\nUnder this very initiative Maharashtra a progressive State in India has ventured
\nin to propose a legislation on imposing prohibition on the said unethical
\npractices amongst the medical professionals, where under stringent penalties
\nstand incorporated, which would be causing the required deterrent. The group
\nconstituted for the said purpose by the Govt. of the State of Maharashtra includes
\nthe President of the State Indian Medical Association as an Ex-officio Member
\nand the contribution thereto in shaping the same is substantially significant.
\nOn the front of uncompromised \u2018professional autonomy\u2019 the IMA invoked a public
\nmovement against the invocation of policy intervention, whereby an attempt is in
\nvogue to repeal the present Indian Medical Council Act governing the regulatory
\nMedical Council of India by National Medical Commission Bill, which is primarily
\naims at taking away the representative character of the regulatory body and
\nreplace it with a nominated body, which will also include non-professionals in a
\nsubstantial number and would be reduced down to a sub-department under the
\ngovernment negating the much required professional autonomy in all its forms
\nand manifestations. The movement has gathered a significant momentum under
\nthe aegis of Indian Medical Association.
\nThe positive indulgence on part of the medical professionals in the larger human
\ninterest necessitates rendering them required \u2018security and safety\u2019. The infliction
\nof the violence at the drop of the hat merits to be done away with. It was on this
\n-6-
\nvery count that the Indian Medical Association gave a clarion call in response to
\nwhich well over 10,000 medical professionals all over the country on 6th June,
\n2017 gathered at a historic rally in New Delhi, which aired its concern for
\nextension of merited safety and security to the medical professionals in India by
\nsuitable policy interventions at all levels.
\nDuring the Annual meeting of the American Medical Association held between
\n10-14th June, 2017 undertook the privilege of having meaningful interaction with
\nDr Madera CEO AMA, Ms Liyah Secretary General Israel Medical Association, Dr.
\nYokokura President JMA, and President Thailand Medical Association Prof Dr
\nSaranatra Waikakul on vital areas of cause and concern alike.
\nIn the address made at the meeting of Confederation of Medical Association of
\nAsia and Oceanic countries on 29.09.17 in Tokyo, Japan, the Indian position in
\nregard to legality, social ethos, medical norms and practices pertaining to \u2018End of
\nLife\u2019 was brought to fore, wherein it was emphasized that the constitutional
\nposition bringing out right to dignified life as a fundamental right vested with the
\ncitizen ought to include right to decent and dignified death.
\nAddressing the Central Working Committee meeting of the Indian Medical
\nAssociation held between 23rd to 24th Sept. 2017 at New Delhi and also the
\ncelebration of Centenary of Medical Conference in India, the paramount need for
\nethics based medical practice was emphasized. The Centenary Indian Medical
\nAssociation Award was also ceremonially conferred.
\nAll over initiatives and efforts need to be viewed in the backdrop of the material
\nreality that in all fairness we need to accept that the \u2018Global tranquility\u2019 has
\nsubstantial reason to feel potently threatened. This is primarily due to
\nbroadening of the \u2018disparities and inequities\u2019 resulting in security and safety
\n-7-
\nbeing put to stress and generating palpable discontent, which otherwise was
\nsimmering in character.
\nIn the context of my yearlong occupancy as the President of the premier World
\nMedical Association I need to state with all conviction at my disposal that it is
\nimperative for all across the \u2018geographical borders\u2019 to be alert and conscious to
\nthe dictum that \u2018poverty anywhere is an inevitable threat to prosperity
\neverywhere\u2019. On this very count the \u2018Global Developmental Profile\u2019 cannot turn a
\nblind eye to this material reality. Independent of the cause and causation the fact
\nremains that \u2018inequity\u2019 would inevitably entail \u2018discontent\u2019 resulting in
\n\u2018discomfort\u2019 and manifesting in an \u2018uncontrolled rebellion\u2019. Whether world would
\nbe able to sustain the same in the context of its bitter experiences of the two
\nworst fought \u2018World Wars\u2019 in the 20th Century, the \u2018scars\u2019 of which haunt us
\nincessantly till date. The material question therefore is has the world taken right
\nand desired lessons out of the same? The palpable answer, with its ugly raised
\nhead turns out to be \u2018no\u2019 and that operationally is the root cause of plaguing
\n\u2018inequities and inequality\u2019.
\nAs such, the human emancipation and development across the geographical
\nboundaries carved out on the Globe, mandates true and real essence of \u2018equity\u2019
\nand \u2018equality\u2019 in the domain of \u2018legitimacy of fulfillment of human expectations\u2019
\nand \u2018desire of decent and dignified human life\u2019 in the lap of \u2018human culture and
\nhumanized civilization\u2019.
\nIt is amongst such \u2018distorted deviations\u2019 that the medical profession has to rise to
\nthe occasion in the larger interest of \u2018men, mankind, culture and civilization\u2019 in
\nunison to bridge the vital gaps that have been stonewalled for various reasons of
\n\u2018narrow mindedness, hate, bigotry and insensitivity\u2019 plagued by utter and gross
\n\u2018selfishness\u2019 paramount in nature and unending in character.
\n-8-
\nThe challenge is huge in magnitude and gigantic in its existence. The efforts and
\nthe initiatives that have been undertaken have not been sufficient to even cause a
\ndent to it much-less being sufficient for its eraser. The real test is not extension of
\n\u2018lip sympathy\u2019 to the needy and helpless but the core requirement is extension of
\na \u2018helping hand harboring a healing touch\u2019. The divine angel women Mother
\nTeresa very candidly observed to deal such inclinations through her candid
\nwords to the effect that \u2018a hand extended in help is far more superior to the two
\nfolded in prayer\u2019. It is here that the real trajectory of doing good in a meaningful
\nsense and a bonafide purpose lies.
\nWe have been able to do reasonably well, but yet much is required to be done.
\nThis is possible only by a genuine hand holding and availing the prestigious and
\nall important forum of World Medical Association to move with devoted
\ncommitment to impact various policy frames which would go a long way to make
\nthe mother planet earth a better place for human habitation and co-existence.
\nUnder a notable initiative by the Indian Medical Association through series of
\n\u2018Public Advertisements\u2019 in leading dailies, mass awareness on matters of health
\nincluding public health and professional issues in a thematic manner were
\nprominently focused in public and professional interest. The major thematic
\ndepictions prominently included \u201cAvoidance of treatment from fake doctors, fair
\ncompensation for better accountability amongst medical professionals, \u2018Beti
\nBachao\u2019 (Save daughters), Zero tolerance for cuts and commissions and vital
\naspects of public health\u201d, which evoked a very huge and powerful response from
\nall the stakeholders. On 2nd October the World Non-violence Day which is the
\nbirth day of legendary Late Mahatma Gandhi an apostle of non-violence and who
\ngave the world the modality of assertion through \u201cfasting\u201d the Indian Medical
\n-9-
\nAssociation gave a call for \u201cDawn to Dusk\u201d fast by all the members of IMA across
\nthe country to press for the acceptance of demand in the interest of profession
\nand professionals by the Government of India. In response to the clarion call well
\nover 3,00,000 medical professionals, who are the members of IMA
\nwholeheartedly participated at the said fast on the very lines of the global
\nconcept given by Mahatma Gandhi to the world.
\nI shall be failing in my duty if I do not record my sense of thankfulness and
\ngratitude to all the members of the Council, officials of the World Medical
\nAssociation and representatives of all the National Medical Associations of
\nMember countries for their valuable support in my endeavor, which I revere and
\nwould love to cherish all my life. I am sure that coming times would see a new
\n\u2018twilight\u2019 for a better \u2018dawn\u2019 for the entire humanity.
\nThank you,<\/p>\n"},"caption":{"rendered":"

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