SKIMS celebrates Doctors Day

Doctors Day 2009 was celebrated in the auditorium of SKIMS today. At the outset, a one-minute silence was observed to condole the sad demise of Prof. Zubaida Jeelani, former Dean and Director of SKIMS, who passed away in Saudi Arabia on June 29, 2009. A welcome address was given by Director, SKIMS, Prof. Abdul Hamid Zargar. Prof. Zargar, while welcoming participants, highlighted the role of the leaders of the medical profession who had set foundations and passed the baton to current generation to lead it to the future. He stressed the need for constant up-gradation of the skills of the medical personnel so as to provide quality-care at doorstep of common Kashmiri. The celebrations included an essay competition amongst the resident doctors of SKIMS on the topic - Role of Private Sector in the Healthcare in Kashmir. The first prize was bagged by Dr. Tufail, second by Dr. Altaf Ali while the third prize was won by Dr. Deepak. The highlights of the Doctors Day celebrations also included inaugural Sher-e-Kashmir Oration that was delivered by Prof. Ajit Kumar Nagpal, Founder Director of SKIMS and Current Chairman of Batra Hospital, New Delhi. Dr. Nagpal delivered his oration on Universal Healthcare for All: Vision and Reality. He discussed the vision of Sher-e-Kashmir Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah at length regarding healthcare for his fellow Kashmiris. Dr. Nagpal said the policy planners and the healthcare providers should work for an equitable and universal healthcare for all. On the occasion, Prof. Azra Shah and Prof. Mohammad Amin Akhtar, recently superannuated professors of SKIMS, were awarded with Professionals of Excellence award for their contribution in medical teaching. Noted physician and ex-principal, GMC, Srinagar Prof. Syed Naseer Ahmad Shah and his wife, also former principal, GMC Srinagar, were conferred Lifetime Achievement Awards for their immense contributions towards overall development of the medical education and healthcare services in Kashmir.