Every year July 1 is celebrated as National Doctors’ Day by the Indian Medical Association (IMA). This day is widely observed to celebrate the birth and death anniversary of former Bengal’s Chief Dr. Bidhan Chandra Roy.
The day is especially dedicated to all the doctors and the healthcare workers who have been serving patients by putting their lives at risk. Doctor’s Day is celebrated on different dates across the world. The ongoing coronavirus pandemic has thrown up new challenges which we have never faced before.
The present coronavirus pandemic has once again reminded us about the contributions and sacrifices made by our doctors who are our real heroes who have been working continuously day and night around the globe.
Doctor’s Day is celebrated on different dates across the world. Know about the history and significance of this day.
What is the history of National Doctors’ Day?
This day was first observed in 1991 in the honor of the former Bengal’s Chief Minister Dr. BC Roy to recognize his contribution to serving humanity.
Dr. Roy made an enormous contribution to the medical field and was a great doctor. He was born on July 1, 1882, and died on a similar date in 1962.
He was also honored with Bharat Ratna, on February 4, 1961. Moreover, in establishing medical institutions like Jadavpur T.B. Hospital, Chittaranjan Seva Sadan, Kamala Nehru Memorial Hospital, Victoria Institution (college), Chittaranjan Cancer Hospital, and the Chittaranjan Seva Sadan for women and children he played the most significant role. He was also the very first medical consultant in the subcontinent of India who soared over his generations in several fields by British Medical journal.
What is the significance of this day?
This day is observed to pay regard towards our medical doctors’ role and responsibilities in serving the lives of others. The day is supposed to recognize their functions and responsibilities.
Amid the Covid-19 outbreak, when the instances have elevated tremendously, the medical doctors have been working 24*7 risking their lives and desperately making an attempt to save several lives. Instead of thinking about their own safety and their family’s safety, they chose to serve the nation. Kudos to their spirit and dedication that they continued to work untiringly in the hour of crisis.
Amid the second wave of COVID-19 pandemic, the Indian Medical Association on Tuesday informed that 798 doctors died during the second wave of COVID-19 across the country out of which the maximum is 128 doctors lost their lives in Delhi, followed by Bihar at 115.
The number of doctors who lost their lives in the pandemic in Delhi stands at 128, followed by Bihar at 115 and Uttar Pradesh at 79, according to the official note released by the IMA.
States like Maharashtra and Kerala where the prevalence of the Delta Plus variant of COVID-19 is on a spike also reported deaths of doctors in double digits. Among which Maharashtra reported 23 doctor deaths, while Kerala reported 24 deaths.