Union minister of state for health and family welfare Anupriya Patel attended the sixth convocation of AIIMS Bhubaneswar on Saturday, where she described graduates of the institution as “Doctor+”. Patel said doctors trained at AIIMS possess a distinct identity because of their exposure to advanced infrastructure, modern medical facilities, research opportunities, expert guidance and the values of compassion and empathy developed during their education.Referring to the dignity and responsibility of the medical profession, she said the white coat represents trust, duty, commitment and privilege, and urged graduating doctors to wear it with confidence and compassion.Patel also highlighted the rapid growth of India’s healthcare system, stating that the number of AIIMS institutions has risen from seven to 23, improving access to quality medical education and healthcare services across the country. She spoke about the Centre’s efforts to make healthcare more affordable and accessible, particularly through the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana, which has extended medical support to millions of beneficiaries.Addressing the increasing burden of non-communicable diseases, Patel said healthcare professionals must give equal importance to prevention, screening and early diagnosis along with treatment. She noted that 1.84 lakh Ayushman Aarogya Mandirs have been established as community-level centres for comprehensive primary healthcare. She also mentioned India’s population-based screening programme, under which people aged 30 and above are being screened for five major conditions: diabetes, hypertension, oral cancer, breast cancer and cervical cancer. She described the initiative as an important step in strengthening preventive healthcare.On digital healthcare, Patel referred to the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission and said it is helping build a stronger and more connected health ecosystem through digital initiatives. She further said India has significantly expanded its medical education infrastructure, with 820 medical colleges, nearly 1.29 lakh medical seats and about 85,000 postgraduate seats, creating more opportunities for future healthcare professionals.Odisha health minister Mukesh Mahaling and AIIMS Bhubaneswar executive director Dr Ashutosh Biswas also addressed the convocation.
