National Doctor's Day : 1st July 2015

Dr Khetrimayum Kala Singh *

A lady doctor examining the eyes of an elderly woman during a free medical camp at Lower Khoirentak in January 2013 :: Pix - Hueiyen Lanpao

"Doctors perform vital diagnosis, treatment and care 365 days per year, this is the day to honor them"

Introduction

Doctor's Day is observed to pay tribute to Dr. B.C. Roy and salutes the spirit of his dedication. The red carnation was chosen as the official symbol of doctors Day because of the color of the flower is in spirit of characters of medical profession. It represents adoration, charity, sacrifice, bravery and audacity.

When is the National Doctor's Day in 2015

The national Doctor's Day is always observed in the United States of America on the 30th Day of March each year. In India it is observed on 1st July every year.

The origin and History of the National Doctor's Day

Following overwhelming approved by the United States Senate and the House of Representatives, on October 30, 1990 President George Bush Signed March 30th as "National Doctor's Day".

Doctor's Day in India was established by the Government of India in 1991 to be recognized and celebrated every year on 1st of July as National Doctors day. It is celebrated on 1st of July on the birth and death anniversary of the most famous physician of India Dr. Bidhan Chandra Roy (Dr. B C Roy) to pay lots of honor and tribute. He was honored with the great Indian civilian award called Bharat Ratna on 4th of February in 1961. He was born on 1st of July in 1882 in the Patna, Bihar. He had completed his medical graduation from Calcutta and returned to the India in 1911 after completing his MRCP and FRCS degrees in London and began his medical career as a physician in India in the same year.

Later he joined the Calcutta Medical College as a teaching staff and afterward he moved to the Campbell Medical School and then to Carmichael Medical College. He was a most famous physician and renowned educationist as well as a freedom fighter as he joined the Mahatma Gandhi during Civil Disobedience Movement. Later he became Indian National Congress leader and then Chief Minister of the West Bengal. He passed away on his birthday means 1st of July in 1962, after 80 years of his great service in this world. Behind his name, Dr. B. C. Roy National Award was instituted in the year 1976 to pay honor, respect and tribute.

Why National Doctors Day Is Celebrated

National doctors day is celebrated every year all across the India on 1st of July to provide honor to the most famous and legendary physician as well as 2nd Chief Minister of the West Bengal, Dr. Bidhan Chandra Roy.

It is a great observance in India which helps in fulfilling the actual need of doctors and physicians in the lives of everyone as well as their significant roles and responsibilities. The annual celebration of this awareness campaign helps common public to get aware about the roles, importance and the precious care of the doctors.

Large population crowd of the India depends in many ways on the physicians and their quality treatments which show the remarkable improvements and progress in the cure and treatments methods. Annual celebration of the doctors day has been proved as a way of encouragement and big eye opener for all the physicians and doctors of the India to wake up from their failing career due to the lack of commitment towards their profession.

National doctors day celebration has been marked as the day of respect for entire professional doctors who have made their great efforts in saving the life of patients. Doctors day means a whole day which has been dedicated to the medical profession especially for doctors and physicians to commemorate their efforts and roles. It is a day to say them vote of thanks for their love, affection and priceless care of their patients.

National Doctors Day Celebration

National doctors day is being celebrated for years by the government and non-government healthcare organizations in order to get familiar with the doctors contributions. Staff of the healthcare organizations organizes variety of events and activities for the campaign celebration. "Rotary Club of the North Calcutta and North East Calcutta Social & Welfare Organization" organizes big event every year for the grand celebration of the doctors day.

A discussion program is organized to discuss about the various aspects of medical profession such as health check-up, cure, prevention, diagnosis, proper treatment of the disease and so many. Rotational medical services by the doctors are also promoted and encouraged in the community for better and healthy social development. Free medical checkup camps are organized at many health centers and public places by the health care organizations to promote quality medical services without cost among common public.

General screening test camps are also organized to assess the health status, health counseling, health nutrition talks and chronic diseases awareness among poor people and senior citizens. Free blood test, random blood sugar test, ECG, EEG, blood pressure checkup and etc activities are organized to aware people about the priceless roles of doctors in everyone lives.

Some of the activities at the schools and colleges level are also organized for encouraging more youth students toward the dedicated medical profession. Discussion on the medical topics, quiz competitions, sports activities, availing scientific tools to students for the creative knowledge, implementing new and effective educational strategies for making the medical profession strong and more responsible.

On the 1st of July patients greet their doctors by distributing greeting cards, appreciation cards, Ecards, giving them bunch of flowers or bouquets, greeting messages through the mails and etc. Special meetings, party and dinner are organized at the health centers, hospitals, nursing homes or at homes by the doctors in order to commemorate importance of day and contributions of doctors towards medical profession.