Asserting that many patients are deprived of liver, kidney or other transplant due to non-availability of organs, President Droupadi Murmu on Wednesday said there was a need to organise more and more awareness campaigns on a larger scale to encourage people about organ donation.
Addressing the ninth convocation of the Institute of Liver and Biliary Sciences (ILBS) here, the President suggested that more attention should be paid to preventive healthcare. "It can be said that liver is the security guard of our body. Health problems related to liver are serious in our country and the huge number of diseases caused by them is a cause for worry," Murmu said.
She said the ILBS is expected to make a significant contribution in the prevention of liver diseases. The President said that due to non-availability of sufficient number of organs, many patients are deprived of liver, kidney or any other transplant.
"Unfortunately, unethical practices related to organ donation also come to light from time to time. It is the responsibility of an aware society to solve these problems. In our country, there is a need to organise more and more awareness campaigns on a larger scale to encourage people about organ donation," Murmu said. The President advised doctors to take care of themselves.
She said that amidst the challenges like long duty hours, continuous emergency cases and night duties, they have to continuously serve the patients with full alertness and enthusiasm. "Therefore, it is important that despite all the challenges, they all remain physically, mentally and spiritually healthy and alert," Murmu was quoted as having said in a statement issued by the Rashtrapati Bhavan.
The President said that the ILBS has carved its own niche in a span of only 13 years on the strength of world-class efficiency and integrity. She was happy to note that more than 1,000 liver transplants and approximately 300 renal transplants have been performed at the ILBS.
Murmu stated that India is becoming an international healthcare hub on the strength of institutions like ILBS by providing world-class health services at relatively low cost. The President said that with the integration of life sciences and modern information technology, revolutionary changes are taking place in the field of healthcare. She termed the establishment of Artificial Intelligence Learning Unit in ILBS as a timely initiative.
Murmu urged the ILBS to continue to work in the field of research along with providing treatment.
