Yogi comes down hard on doctors who avoid government service
LUCKNOW: Chief minister Yogi Adityanath said on Monday that taxpayers’ money, used to develop medical institutions and educate doctors, should benefit the society.
“It is the money of 22 crore taxpayers that is used to build government medical institutions in UP and educate doctors. But when it comes to giving back to society, the doctors vanish,” said the CM while addressing a gathering at Dr Ram Manohar Lohia Institute of Medical Sciences.
Earlier, the chief minister unveiled the statue of late Dr SC Rai, a surgeon and former mayor of Lucknow.
“Doctors avoid government service for private practice. But if you leave for cities outside UP, or leave the country to settle in Europe, our money will goes waste,” said the CM referring to medical students who after completing studies in government colleges at subsidised fees, leave for greener pastures.
“No CM, no medical education minister, no director brings money from their own pockets. This is taxpayers’ money. We need to think about our population of 22 crore,” he said.
The CM suggested that for internships, medical students should opt for primary health centres in rural areas and work there for a year to get the sensitivity required of a doctor. “By doing this, they would understand the problems of the patients,” he said.
He added that each day there were media reports highlighting anomalies in health services. “There must be some reasons (behind it). These need to be solved. There was a time when there was a high regard for doctors,” he said.