Doctors’ Role Crucial in Achieving Viksit Bharat Goal: Amit Shah
Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation, Amit Shah, addressed the national conference IMA NATCON 2025 organized by the Indian Medical Association (IMA) in Ahmedabad, Gujarat. Shah emphasized the importance of redefining medical ethics to align with present-day requirements, stating that the dimensions and scope of ethics framed 100 years ago have become irrelevant.
The health sector is essentially a field of service, and doctors are seen as God by patients. Merely acquiring a medical education does not make one a successful doctor; ethics should be an integral part of medical education. Ethics cannot be imposed or enforced through law; it’s a moral subject. Shah urged the IMA to constitute a team to redefine the ethics of the medical field and align them with present-day requirements. He suggested that the IMA should suggest to the government to make redefined ethics a part of the medical curriculum.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has set a goal to build a Viksit Bharat by 2047, with India ranking first in the world in every sector. The government has launched initiatives like Swachhata Mission, Fit India Movement, and Ayushman Bharat to improve healthcare infrastructure. The health budget has increased from ₹37,000 crore in 2013-14 to ₹1.28 lakh crore in 2025. About 1.81 lakh Ayushman Bharat Health Centres have proved to be a boon for the poor.
Shah highlighted the achievements of the government’s healthcare initiatives, including a 97% reduction in malaria, 90% improvement in kala-azar, and a 25% decline in maternal mortality rate. There has been a 20% increase in institutional deliveries and a 50% reduction in infant mortality rate. The government plans to launch a programme to provide consultations from AIIMS to PHCs and CHCs through telemedicine and videography.
Shah asked the IMA to devise a scheme to promote doctors engaged in research and make maximum use of existing doctors through video conferencing and telemedicine. He praised the service rendered by doctors to poor patients in the country and thanked them for their efforts during the COVID-19 pandemic, stating that they stood united and served patients without worrying about their own health.
The conference was attended by dignitaries, including the Chief Minister of Gujarat, Bhupendra Patel, and over 5,000 IMA representatives from 27 states. Shah expressed confidence that the IMA would gain renewed energy and momentum under the leadership of its new president.
