Vice-President Urges Medical Institutions to Develop Solutions to Healthcare Challenges

Vice-President C.P. Radhakrishnan has called upon medical institutions to strengthen research, foster innovation and develop solutions to pressing healthcare challenges.

Addressing the 40th anniversary celebrations of Dr NTR University of Health Sciences here on Monday, he urged students to dedicate themselves to addressing healthcare challenges facing humanity. He expressed hope that researchers from the university would earn global recognition, including the Nobel Prize, for their contributions to medical science.

Noting that artificial intelligence, digital health, telemedicine and advanced diagnostic technologies were transforming healthcare, the Vice-President called upon universities to provide students and researchers with greater exposure to advanced research and emerging technologies.

He said technological progress must be guided by scientific validation, patient safety, data privacy and ethical responsibility. Technology, he observed, could not replace the compassion and human connection central to the doctor-patient relationship.

The Vice-President urged doctors and healthcare professionals to play a proactive role in creating awareness about drug abuse, describing the fight against it as a collective responsibility. He called upon the medical fraternity to lead efforts to build a drug-free society.

Congratulating the university on completing four decades of service to medical education and healthcare, he said the institution embodied the vision of former Andhra Pradesh chief minister N.T. Rama Rao. He noted that Rama Rao’s vision and public service extended beyond regional boundaries and reflected a broader commitment to the welfare of the nation.

The Vice-President said medical education had expanded significantly under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership. He noted that the number of medical colleges in the country had increased from 387 before 2014 to 846 at present.

He added that the number of MBBS seats had risen by 172 per cent, from around 51,000 to more than 1.4 lakh, while postgraduate seats had increased by 177 per cent, from around 31,000 to more than 86,000.

The Vice-President joined the gathering in taking a pledge to reject drugs and promote a drug-free society. He also released a souvenir marking the university’s 40-year journey.

Andhra Pradesh Governor and university Chancellor S. Abdul Nazeer said health sciences education was changing in response to global developments and called for a more dynamic, technology-driven and human-centred approach.

He said technology was bringing major changes to medical education and stressed the need for students to develop digital skills alongside communication, empathy, teamwork and other soft skills required for patient care.

Nazeer called upon the university to strengthen research collaborations, support young faculty members, encourage student innovation and create opportunities for interdisciplinary learning. He said the future of healthcare would increasingly depend on professionals from different disciplines working together in the interests of patients and communities.

He also congratulated the university community on the milestone.