Good News: Centre Agrees to Reinstitute Dr BC Roy Award for Doctors

New Delhi: Bringing good news to the medical fraternity in India, the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has agreed to reinstitute Dr B C Roy Memorial Award, which was pending since 2019.

The confirmation regarding this has been given by the Indian Medical Association (IMA), which had requested the Centre to commence the process of conferment of this prestigious award once again.

In a Press Release issued recently, IMA mentioned, "With the constant persuasion of Indian Medical Association, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India has finally agreed to restart the process of conferment of Dr B C Roy Memorial Award ceremoniously, which was pending since last four years."

"Hopefully large number of deserving doctors will be benefited by this," it added.

Also Read:25 Doctors conferred Dr BC Roy Award by the President on Doctors Day

The Bidhan Chandra (B C) Roy Award was instituted in 1973 in memory of B. C. Roy by Medical Council of India. The Award used to be presented by the President of India in New Delhi on July 1, the National Doctors' Day. Every year, the award was given in the following categories- Statesmanship of the Highest Order in India, Medical man-cum-Statesman, Eminent Medical Person, Eminent person in Philosophy, Eminent person in Science and Eminent person in Arts. However, the Award got discontinued since the last 5 years.

Medical Dialogues had earlier reported while expressing gratitude towards the medical professionals of the country on the eve of Doctors' Day, IMA had requested the Central Government to reinstitute the Dr B C Roy National Award. While pointing out several issues pertinent to the medical fraternity, IMA had also stated that it is important to reward the doctors who dedicated their lives to the healthcare of our countrymen. Now, the Union Health Ministry has decided to reinstitute the Award.

Speaking to Medical Dialogues in this regard, Dr. J A Jayalal, the Immediate past National President of IMA told Medical Dialogues, "In order to commemorate the fond memory of legendary Freedom Fighter and Bharat Ratna Late Dr. B. C. Roy, a Endowment Trust came to be constituted. In terms of the composition prescribed for the said Endowment Fund President Medical Council of India (Ex-Officio) and Secretary Medical Council of India (Ex-officio) are the Chairman and Secretary of the said Endowment."

"However, the Indian Medical Council Act was repealed by the National Medical Commission Act, 2019 and after NMC came to power, its Chairman and Secretary became the Ex-Officio President and Secretary of the B. C. Roy Memorial Endowment Fund with Life Members in other categories. In terms of the prescribed procedure the Awards have been conferred by the then Medical Council of India till the year 2017, however, since the supersession of the Medical Council of India in September, 2018 that came to be replaced by the Board of Governors and finally constituting the National Medical Commission in terms of National Medical Commission Act, 2019 in the year 2020, till date the said awards have not been conferred. As a result, as on date the awards for four years which are required to be conferred annually have accumulated and are pending," he further mentioned.

Terming such a pendency as "tragic" and "unfortunate" Dr Jayalal further mentioned, "The reasons for no initiative by the concerned including the present National Medical Commission is difficult to swallow and hard to digest because apart from the fact that the deserving are not being awarded by the prestigious award but in a way even the very purpose of the creation of the Endowment Fund and thereby catering to the cause of commemoration of the memory of greatest modern medicine professional of India is also kept in limbo which is not only tragic but is heavily unfortunate too."

"It is for this reason that it is appropriate and in the interest of all concerned including an humble salutation to the commemorative memory of Late Dr. B. C. Roy Indian Medical Association should take the required initiative with the President, National Medical Commission and the concerned authorities for the initiation required on this count at its earliest," he added.

Also Read: IMA urges Govt to reinstitute Dr B C Roy National Award on eve of Doctors' Day