VP Naidu inaugurates MGM Healthcare, 400-bedded Super Specialty Hospital in Chennai

Chennai: The Vice President of India, Shri M Venkaiah Naidu has recently inaugurated MGM Healthcare, a 400-bedded Super Specialty Hospital in Chennai.

During the event, the Minister also called upon private hospitals, medical colleges, nursing institutions and people in medical fraternity to adopt schools in their respective neighbourhoods and counsel the students on preventive healthcare.

Referring to the growing incidence of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs), including cancer, heart disorders and diabetes, Shri Naidu pointed out that modern lifestyle changes were aggravating NCDS. He wanted the medical fraternity, including the private hospitals and other institutions, to reach out to schools and colleges and create awareness among the students on the dangers of lifestyle diseases.

While Inaugurating MGM Healthcare in Chennai, the Vice President urged doctors, actors and media houses to adopt professional social responsibility on the lines of corporate social responsibility to create awareness among people, particularly the youth, on the need to avoid physical inactivity and unhealthy dietary habits.

Read Also:Non-communicable diseases, unequal access to healthcare are major challenges in Health sector: VP Naidu

"Chennai attracts a good number of international health tourists, proving that medical tourism is a fast-rising sector in India today. Patients from countries like Kenya, Nigeria, Tanzania, Iraq, Afghanistan, Oman, Yemen, Uzbekistan, Bangladesh and Maldives are travelling to Chennai and other cities in India for surgeries and treatment in multi and super-specialty hospitals. Here is where private sector hospitals like MGM Healthcare have a role to play. When I was informed that this new hospital is a product of the MGM Group, that is already well-known for its excellent medical and educational institutions, I was more than glad to be a part of their new journey," the Vice President stated to the media.

Shri Naidu called for launching a national movement against the growing incidence of NCDs. Quoting World Health Organization’s data released in 2017, Shri Naidu observed that about 61 per cent of deaths in India were attributed to NCDs, including heart disorders, cancer and diabetes. He also wanted the Indian Medical Association to take the lead in promoting awareness among the people, particularly school and college students.

Shri Naidu said that there was an urgent need to establish NCD clinics in both urban and rural areas and the private sector must play a prominent role in setting up such clinics.

Pointing out that despite the improved reach of healthcare delivery, he said there was a huge disparity in the healthcare services provided between urban and rural areas, the Vice President called upon the private sector and hospitals like MGM Healthcare to step in and complement the efforts of the government in reaching modern healthcare facilities to the rural areas, including the remote places.

Expressing concern over the shortage of around 600,000 doctors and two million nurses, he wanted both the private and the public sector to join hands to remedy the situation and also suggested the setting up of more medical colleges, hospitals and health infrastructure that can deliver affordable diagnostic and treatment services to the people.

"In addition to this shortage, the smaller towns and rural areas lack adequate facilities. We cannot allow this situation to continue and both the private and the public sector need to join hands to provide quality healthcare at affordable costs," he stated.

Shri Naidu also called for adopting the Public Private Partnership model to bridge the gap in providing technically advanced primary and secondary healthcare centers, especially in rural areas.

The Governor of Tamil Nadu, Shri Banwarilal Purohit, the Deputy Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, Shri O. Panneerselvam, the Minister for Health and Family Welfare, Government of Tamil Nadu, Dr. C. Vijaya Baskar, the Minister for Fisheries, Shri D. Jayakumar, the Managing Director, MGM Healthcare, Shri M.K. Rajagopalan, the CEO, MGM Healthcare, Dr. Rahul Menon, the Director, MGM Healthcare, Dr. Prasanth Rajagopalan and other dignitaries were present.