Set Example, Say NO to Alcohol in Medical Conferences, Workshops, Seminars, CME: DGHS tells Doctors

New Delhi: Asking doctors to set an example of good habit that others can follow, the Director General of Health Services (DGHS), under the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) has directed them to avoid alcohol in Medical Conference/ Workshop/ Seminar/CME.

Writing to all the Medical Associations across the country, DGHS Prof. (Dr.) Atul Goel has mentioned, "Being health professionals, we should follow the healthy lifestyle and it may be advised that alcohol in any form may be avoided in Medical Conference./ Workshop/ Seminar/ CME to set an example of a good habit which can be emulated by others."

"Let us start this initiative with the doctors first, then later this initiative may spread across all category of Conference/ Workshop/ Seminar/CME," the letter further added.

Such advice has been given by the Union Health Ministry while referring to the fact that Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) are estimated to account for 63% of all deaths in India. Among these, cardiovascular diseases lead with 27% overall mortality cause followed by chronic chronic respiratory diseases (11%), cancers (9%), diabetes (3%) and others (13%) as per the WHO — NCD India profile — 2018.

Referring to this, DGHS pointed out that the rise of NCDs are driven by primarily four major risk factors including Tobacco Use, Physical Inactivity, Harmful Use of Alcohol and Unhealthy Diets.

"Alcohol use is linked to many diseases and injury conditions including liver cirrhosis, several cancers (liver, laryngeal, oesophageal and oropharyngeal cancers), injuries and haemorrhagic strokes. 5.1% of the global burden of disease and injury was attributable to alcohol as measured in disability adjusted life years (DALYs)," DGHS mentioned in the letter directed to the doctors.

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Mentioning that the doctors, being the health professionals, should follow healthy lifestyle, DGHS has advised the medical professionals to avoid alcohol in any form in Medical Conference./ Workshop/ Seminar/ CME to set an example of a good habit.

"Let us start this initiative with the doctors first, then later this initiative may spread across all category of Conference/ Workshop/ Seminar/CME. The ultimate goal is to reduce the risk factors and NCD burden in the country," stated the letter dated March 31, 2023.

The DGHS letter has been issued when the Ethics and Medical Registration Board (EMRB) of the National Medical Commission (NMC) recently advised the medical students against the use of tobacco and alcohol.

Medical Dialogues had earlier reported that in the recently released Guidelines on "Professional Responsibilities of Medical Students", NMC Ethics Board specified the responsibilities related to personal growth of medical students.

Encouraging the medical students to take care of themselves and lead a healthy lifestyle, the Guidelines stated, "They are particularly expected to avoid alcohol, tobacco and other substances of abuse. Students are expected to seek treatment and counselling in case of substance abuse."

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