President Droupadi Murmu attended and delivered the inaugural convocation address at AIIMS Rajkot in Gujarat on Monday, according to an official statement from the President's Secretariat.
She highlighted the establishment of several AIIMS institutions nationwide aimed at providing world-class tertiary healthcare at an affordable cost. “They are playing a pivotal role in providing quality medical education, fostering research and innovation, undertaking public health initiatives, and formulating national health policies,” she said.
Describing AIIMS Rajkot as a new institution with a long journey ahead, the President urged its policymakers to address both the core goals of AIIMS and the specific health challenges faced by the region. She emphasised the importance of good governance for the institution’s development: “Steps taken right at the outset to ensure good governance and transparency will have a far-reaching impact on the development of this institution.”
On the medical profession, President Murmu said, “This profession demands not only scientific knowledge but also sensitivity, patience and humility.” She added that the white coat symbolises the trust society places in doctors during times of illness and uncertainty: “The responsibility of upholding this trust rests upon the shoulders of doctors.”
Highlighting rapid technological advances, she noted, “Artificial Intelligence, Robotics, precision medicine and digital health services are rapidly transforming the landscape and potential of the medical world.” She encouraged graduates to embrace these changes to improve their knowledge, skills and effectiveness in treating disease.
However, she stressed that human empathy remains irreplaceable: “A doctor’s gentle words, a reassuring smile, and the patience to truly listen can often heal in ways that medicine alone cannot.” The President described being a doctor with human values such as integrity and compassion as a greater achievement than skill alone.
She urged the new doctors to contribute to nation-building by using their positions constructively, noting that skilled and socially conscious doctors can effect profound societal change. President Murmu also connected good health with the goal of Viksit Bharat by 2047, stating that government initiatives to improve healthcare are showing positive results but require cooperation among stakeholders.
She concluded with confidence that AIIMS Rajkot would play a vital role in advancing equitable and accessible healthcare, helping to meet national objectives through medical research and innovation.