AP Governor Says Medical Education Key to India's Healthy Future
He said while India has an extensive three-tier healthcare system, disparities persist between urban and rural areas.
Visakhapatnam:Medical education plays a vital role in strengthening the healthcare system by not only imparting knowledge but also fostering innovation, research, and continuous professional development, said AP Governor Dr Sayyed Abdul Nazeer while participating in the Sixth Graduation Ceremony of the NRI Institute of Medical Sciences in Visakhapatnam on Saturday.
The Governor highlighted that medical colleges and research institutions serve as hubs for developing new treatments, therapies, and healthcare technologies. He emphasised that healthcare professionals must engage in lifelong learning to keep pace with evolving medical knowledge and ensure quality patient care.
Addressing India's healthcare challenges, Dr Abdul Nazeer noted that despite significant progress, the country continues to face a growing burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs), such as hypertension, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, obesity, and cancer.
He said while India has an extensive three-tier healthcare system, disparities persist between urban and rural areas. The National Digital Health Programmes and increased government investment are helping bridge these gaps.
The AP Governor pointed out that healthcare expenditure has nearly doubled from ₹3.2 lakh crore in 2020–21 to ₹6.1 lakh crore in 2024–25. Government initiatives, such as Ayushman Bharat-Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY), the free dialysis programme, and the Jan Aushadhi scheme have significantly reduced out-of-pocket healthcare expenses and expanded access to affordable treatment.
Others who spoke on the occasion highlighted the transformative impact of robotic surgery in modern medicine. Robotic-assisted procedures offer greater precision, reduced complications, minimal invasiveness, and faster recovery for patients.
The speakers referred to the recent milestone of an Indian urologist Dr Syed Mohammed Ghouse successfully performing a robot-assisted bladder reconnection surgery on a patient in Hyderabad while operating remotely from Wuhan, China. This demonstrates the immense potential of artificial intelligence, robotics, and telemedicine in shaping the future of healthcare, the experts underlined.