President Murmu Urges AIIMS Bilaspur Doctors To Take Healthcare To Himachal’s Remote Areas

President Droupadi Murmu on Tuesday urged the first batch of doctors graduating from the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) Bilaspur to voluntarily serve people living in remote and rural parts of Himachal Pradesh, where access to specialised healthcare can be difficult. Addressing the institute’s first convocation, Murmu said doctors graduating from prestigious medical institutions have a responsibility to extend healthcare services beyond urban and easily accessible centres. She described medicine as a noble profession rooted in compassion, sensitivity and selfless service and encouraged the graduating students to take up the challenge of working in far-flung areas of the hill state.

Murmu said doctors are often reluctant to serve in rural and inaccessible locations, even though such areas can have a greater need for qualified medical professionals. She urged the graduating students to adopt a different approach and voluntarily choose postings that allow them to serve communities located away from major healthcare centres. “The medical profession is not merely a means of livelihood but a supreme medium for compassion, sensitivity and selfless service to society,” she said. The President added that she could relate to the challenges of inadequate medical access in remote areas, noting that the issue also affects her native place.

The President said the country expects doctors trained at institutions such as AIIMS to rise above the reluctance to work in difficult or geographically isolated locations. For a hill state such as Himachal Pradesh, mountainous terrain and dispersed settlements can make access to healthcare more challenging for sections of the population. Murmu said doctors should view their professional responsibility in broader terms, going beyond diagnosing and treating illnesses to showing empathy and sensitivity towards patients. She emphasised that people place significant trust in doctors when their family members fall ill and expect both competent treatment and humane care.

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Murmu also highlighted the potential of technology to bridge geographical barriers in healthcare. She called for greater use of telemedicine services at AIIMS Bilaspur so that people living in remote areas can access medical consultations and expertise without always having to travel long distances. Technology-enabled healthcare can complement physical medical facilities by connecting patients in distant locations with doctors and specialists. The President’s emphasis on telemedicine came alongside her appeal for doctors to serve rural communities, suggesting that a combination of physical presence and digital healthcare services could help improve access in difficult-to-reach parts of Himachal Pradesh.

Congratulating the graduating students and gold medallists, Murmu said being part of the first batch of AIIMS Bilaspur should be a matter of immense pride. As the institute’s inaugural graduating class, the students will carry the distinction of being among the first doctors trained at the institution since its establishment. Murmu encouraged them to recognise that distinction as a responsibility as well as an achievement. She said their role should not be limited to clinical treatment, stressing that empathy and a personal connection between doctors and patients can have an important bearing on the healthcare experience. “When a patient receives empathy and a sense of personal connection with the doctor, half the battle against the ailment is won,” she said.

The President also highlighted the healthcare services delivered by AIIMS Bilaspur since it began operations. According to Murmu, the institute has treated around 12 lakh outpatients and one lakh inpatients over the past three years, reflecting its growing role as a healthcare institution in Himachal Pradesh. She also referred to government initiatives such as Ayushman Bharat that seek to expand access to quality and affordable healthcare. Murmu said institutions such as AIIMS have an important role in delivering these services and strengthening public healthcare. Her message to the graduating doctors was therefore centred not only on professional excellence but also on public service, particularly for people who live in rural, remote and far-flung areas where access to doctors remains a persistent challenge.

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