National Doctors’ Day is a day celebrated to recognize the contributions of physicians to individual lives and communities. Every year, July 1 is celebrated as National Doctors’ Day by the Indian Medical Association (IMA). The day is observed to commemorate the birth and death anniversary of former Bengal’s Chief Minister Dr Bidhan Chandra Roy. The day is dedicated to all the doctors and healthcare workers who have been serving the people by risking their lives.
In some nations the day is marked as a holiday. Although supposed to be celebrated by patients in and benefactors of the healthcare industry, it is usually celebrated by health care organizations. Staff may organize a lunch for doctors to present the physicians with tokens of recognition.
History
The day was first observed in 1991 in honour of the former Bengal’s Chief Minister Dr BC Roy to recognise his contribution to serving humanity. Dr Roy was a great doctor who made an enormous contribution to the medical field. He was born on 1 July 1882 and died on a similar date in 1962.
He was also conferred with the honour of Bharat Ratna, on 4 February 1961. He played a significant role in establishing medical institutions like Jadavpur T.B. Hospital, Chittaranjan Seva Sadan, Kamala Nehru Memorial Hospital, Victoria Institution (college), Chittaranjan Cancer Hospital and the Chittaranjan Seva Sadan for women and children. He was also called the first medical consultant in the subcontinent of India who towered over his contemporaries in several fields by British Medical journal.
The day is not just celebrated in India but also in different countries, however, on different dates. In the US it is observed on 30 March, in Cuba on 3 December. First time the Doctor’s Day was observed in March 1933 in the US state of Georgia and was celebrated by sending a card to the physicians and offering flowers on the graves of doctors who have passed away.
How Is India Celebrating the National Doctors’ Day?
To mark the National Doctors’ Day on July 1, Prime Minister will be addressing the medical community at 3 pm. IMA will be organising an event to pay tribute to the Covid martyrs and felicitate corona warriors. The event is open for all and can be accessed online.
In Delhi, Lady Hardinge Medical College is organising a blood donation camp to honour the doctors. The Chhattisgarh Medical Teachers Association and Junior Doctors Association of Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru Medical College is also organising a blood donation camp in July.