News & Events

16 May 2021

IDPD Webinar Report

Universal healthcare system the only the way to meet calamities like COVID – IDPD

A webinar on COVID Crisis and failure of healthcare system organized by the Indian Doctors for Peace and Development  (IDPD) called for universal healthcare system to prevent and minimized the impact of Pandemic like the present COVID-19. A seminar was chaired by  Dr S S Soodan – President IDPD. Those who participated in the discussion include Dr Shakeel Ur Rahman – General Secretary, Dr G M Malik, Dr M Nara Singh & Dr Ravindranath –  Vice President, Dr Shanthi – Member Central Council, Dr Chandrakant Pandav – Former Head Center for Community Medicine (CCM) AIIMS, Dr K Manglem Singh – General Secretary IDPD Manipur, Dr Rakibuddin – Manipur, Dr Anjali Mehta – Social Activist, Dr Jaswinder – Member Central Council, Amarjeet Kaur – General Secretary AITUC, Dr Jeetendra Singh – Secretary IDPD and Dr Arun Mitra – Sevior Vice President. 

Introducing the subject Dr Shakeel Ur Rahman said that the government has proven to be totally insensitive to the warnings on pandemic of COVID-19. They encouraged fudging of data to show their successes but every things stands exposed now. I.e in Gujrat same period last year 58000 people have died while this year 1.23 lakh people died during 71 days from March to May. Such acts not only belie the truth but also deny information which could be used for management of the events in future.

Dr Pandav pointed out that in such situation science society and statesmanship are important. Therefore it is important that the Epidemiologists, behavioural scientists, public health experts should be taken into strategy making. But this did not happen. Because of such approach several diseases are not being controlled. We are loosing 8000 children per day due to lack of nutrition. Lockdown aggravated the poverty. We must follow COVID appropriate behavior – mask, physical distancing & social connectivity, washing/sanitizing hands, we must allocate funds for prevention – 60% for primary prevention, 30% for secondary prevention, 10% for tertiary prevention. We should unite different organisations working for similar cause.

Dr Anjali Mehta – Outline few points 1.Involve Serpanches for vaccination in rural areas, 2.Deffer elections, 3.Medicine in abundant supply, 4.Actual data to be made public, 5.Due compensation to the frontline workers, 6.Stop harassment of the health NGOs.

Dr M Nara Singh – Said that IDPD has to take lead in serving the people in this crisis time.

Dr Ksh Manglem Singh – Said that IDPD Manipur will make programme for the people.

Dr Raqib – Said that they are doing public service by giving cost effective treatment and distributed medicines.

Dr Jaswinder – Said that the disease is spreading to rural areas now which is a serious matter.   

Dr G M Malik – said that all health workers must get vaccinated. The service of Health workers engaged in COVID management should be duly recognized. He also said that we should pass resolution for peace between Israel and Palestine.

Dr Jeetendra Singh – said that Maharashtra situation is better now. There is need for better compliance.

Dr Shanthi said that despite good infrastructure number of cases in Tamil Nadu is quite high. Exact data is not being told. There should be expert committee to make the policy. For the time being NEET should be done away with and states should do admissions.

Amarjeet Kaur – cautioned that government is not sincere. They are fudging data in all this spheres. People’s voice has to be made strong. Migration is continuing. The government is repressive against those raising the issues.

Dr Ravindranath appreciated the initiative.

Dr Arun Mitra said that we have to make programme for health education and lessons from Pandemic.

Dr S S Soodan cautioned that gravity of the situation has to be understood to meet the future challenges.