Russian Sputnik vaccine to soon arrive in India: Rajnath Singh
LUCKNOW : Union defence minister Rajnath Singh said here on Tuesday that the Sputnik vaccine from Russia would soon be reaching India.
Addressing the 114th and 115th Foundation Day ceremony of the King George’s Medical University via online platform, Singh also called upon medical students to join the armed forces.
“I believe our scientists will complete the trials very soon, as the government has principally agreed to vaccinate the doctors and healthcare staff first,” he said.
The defence minister said Covid had compelled India to fight a war that it never imagined. “Instead of ammunition and soldiers, we have medical fraternity at the fore front in this war, who have worked nonstop against an enemy which cannot be seen through the eyes. It is a situation which prevailed some 100 years ago during the Spanish Flu,” he said.
“No batman or Superman can save us. It is now the doctors who are the real superheroes. A picture shared on social media showing a super hero bowing to doctors is apt for the situation and humanity will forever remain indebted to doctors, nurses and paramedics who are the real batman, superman and wonder woman,” said Singh.
Sharing his vision of KGMU, the defence minister said, “Think in 2020 where the KGMU should stand in 2050. Can’t KGMU become a world level centre of excellence in the next 30 years?”
“You know the scarcity of health facilities in the country. The government’s priority is healthcare but giving healthcare service to 135 crore people is a big responsibility. The government spends 1.16% of the GDP on health. If the private sector wasn’t there to spend on health sector, the situation would have been bad. Out of pocket expense in India on health is 59%, which is enough to break the poor and middle income group families. The Ayushman Bharat schemes was started for 10 crore families to ensure no one remains deprived of healthcare. Till now 1.5 crore individuals have been treated at
a cost of Rs 17000 crore,” he said.
Singh said work was also going on to increase the health infrastructure. “In 2014, there were 381 medical colleges and now there are 541. Work on 22 new AIIMSes is going on and the number of MBBS seats went up from 543348 to 80312. But the number of trained doctors is still less. We are focusing on increasing colleges and seats,” he said.
Forces need you: Rajnath to medicos
Union defence minister Rajnath Singh called upon medicos to join the armed forces and attain satisfaction of serving the country along with service to people.
“The forces need you. You may join the armed forces,” said the defence minister, adding that the vice chancellor of KGMU Lt Gen Bipin Puri was also from an army background.
Addressing the students, he said “The Bhagwadgita says always maintain balance in life whatever be the situation. You should consider your degree as social trust and not as individual possession. Think positive and question yourself for improving. Ask yourself : If paracetamol is finished, how would fever be treated? Ask yourself and your teacher/guide. Keep thinking and asking questions in a positive/constructive manner,” he said.