Doctors should serve the society with passion which will go a long way in avoiding unsavoury incidents of attacks on medical professionals, Prof. (Dr.) Sanghamitra Mishra, Dean of Institute of Medical Sciences and SUM Hospital, said on Monday.

“Doctors have a special place in society and such happenings should not occur and will not occur if society accepts them better for providing better community level medical care” Prof. (Dr.) Mishra said while addressing a function organised to mark the Doctor’s Day.

Doctor’s Day, she said, was observed on July 1 every year which was also the birthday of Dr. Bidhan Chandra Roy who was also former Chief Minister of West Bengal. Dr. Roy had played a crucial role in the establishment of Indian Medical Association and Medical Council of India which is now known as the National Medical Council, she said.

Referring to the theme for this year’s Doctor’s Day—‘Family doctors on the frontline’, Prof. (Dr.) Mishra told medical students that they should aim to involve themselves with the family members of the patient for more effective health care at community level. Medical students in their third year, as per the National Medical Commission draft bill proposal have to adopt 7-8 families in a village to understand their health care problems at family level, which will go a long way towards holistic care of patients.

She also advised the students to speak in their ‘rashtrabhasha’ or ‘matrubhasha’ and express bharatiyata in all field of life, if they want to see ‘Ek Bharat Shresth Bharat’.

Prof. (Dr.) Pusparaj Samantasinhar, Medical Superintendent of the hospital, and professors of different departments also spoke on the occasion. Students held stage show to depict different roles of a doctor in society.