New Delhi, August 29, 2022: In the first-of-its-kind Padma Doctors Congregation to commemorate the accomplishments of Padma Awardee Doctors, who have been instrumental in changing the healthcare landscape in India, Union Health Minister, Dr Mansukh Mandaviya called for collective efforts to make India a global healthcare leader while MD of Tata Medical & Diagnostics took a pledge to honour Padma Doctors contribution by planting a tree in each of their names.

The first-of-its-kind ‘Padma Doctors Congregation’ was a historic evening in Bharat Swaasth Mahotsav organised by the HEAL Foundation in sync with Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav to celebrate the healthcare changemakers in India since Independence.

While speaking about the contribution of doctors to the healthcare landscape in India during ‘Padma Doctors Congregation’ Dr Swadeep Srivastava, Founder & Chairman, HEAL Foundation said, “Amrit Kaal (the era of elixir) of Indian Healthcare begins with ‘Padma Doctors Congregation’.”

As a special guest, Mr Girish Krishnamurthy, MD & CEO, Tata Medical & Diagnostics while addressing the ‘Padma Doctors Congregation’ paying heartfelt reverence to the accomplishments of the participating Padma Doctors announced, “To bestow the honour upon all the Padma Awardee Doctors, we, take a pledge today to plant a tree in the name of each participating Padma Doctor in whatever location they wish, to mark the veracity of this historic congregation.”

While addressing the ‘Padma Doctors Congregation’ organised by HEAL Foundation in association with BW Healthcare World, Dr Mansukh Mandaviya, Union Minister for Health & Family Welfare, Chemicals & Fertilizers, Govt. of India, said, “We can make India a world leader and a symbol of global healthcare with collective efforts in this century. India has huge potential to lead the world in the domain of medicine. During the COVID pandemic, the whole world witnessed India’s resilience and its talent to rise to the occasion.”

Mr Krishnamurthy further added, “In the last 5-6 years Tata has developed a ‘Bridgital’ model to bridge the healthcare delivery gaps in India. We have developed the models in sync with the Govt., of India’s healthcare models such as the National Digital Health Mission. The overall idea is to connect the patients through technology and reinvent them to bring ease to their lives.”

Dr Mandaviya further praised the doctors for the role they played in Government’s efforts to cope with the Covid catastrophe that took the whole world unawares. He said people and the government will never forget the role of doctors and health professionals who risked their lives to save people from a deadly virus. He praised India’s triumph over corona by making its vaccines and reaching an astronomical number of doses administered. It is high time that India assumed a leadership role in healthcare. India is well on its course to becoming a global hub of healthcare.”

Addressing the ‘Padma Doctors Congregation’, Dr Bharati Pravin Pawar, Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, Govt., of India, said, “There process of selection of Padma awardees has undergone a sea change as commoners are being bestowed upon by the highest civilian Padma award. Under the leadership of PM Modi, the process of the selection of Padma awards has been changed as the emphasis is not on the name of the nominee, but on their work. Padma awards are now being conferred on the meritorious and real achievers in their respective fields.”

Concluded Dr Swadeep Srivastava, Founder of HEAL Health Group, “Despite the challenges of demographic diversity, literacy, remoteness of areas and accessibility India has been up against, the vision, hard work and unwavering commitment of these doctors who put service above themselves have been instrumental in overcoming many of these challenges to making healthcare accessible and affordable to all. Undoubtedly, these doctors are the truest healthcare changemakers that India will be proud of always. And therefore, we are going to organise this gala event to commemorate their achievements and felicitate them for this after 75 years of Independence.”