National Doctor’s Day
Why in News
National Doctor's Day is celebrated on 1st July every year to recognise the invaluable work done by doctors and physicians and thank them for their dedicated service.
- The day also marks the birth and death anniversary of Dr. Bidhan Chandra Roy who was one of the most renowned physicians in the country.
Key Points
- Background: The Indian Medical Association (IMA) observed the first National Doctor’s day in July 1991.
- IMA is a representative, national voluntary organisation of Doctors of Modern Scientific System of Medicine, which looks after the interest of doctors as well as the well being of the community at large. It was formed in 1928, headquartered in New Delhi.
- IMA in 1946 helped in organisation of the World Medical Association, and thus became its founder member. WMA has its headquarters in France.
- 2020 Theme: ‘Lessen the mortality of Covid-19’ which includes awareness about asymptomatic hypoxia and early aggressive therapy.
Dr Bidhan Chandra Roy (1882-1962)
- Dr B.C. Roy served as a physician, a freedom fighter, an educationist and a politician.
- He was born in Patna Bengal Presidency, British India, in 1882
- He was a follower of Brahmo Samaj. He also led the Civil disobedience movement (began in 1930) in Bengal.
- He served as a physician to Mahatma Gandhi and was also elected as the second Chief Minister of West Bengal.
- He laid the foundation of five eminent cities, namely, Durgapur, Kalyani, Bidhannagar, Ashokenagar and Habra.
- The British Medical Journal, in its obituary of Roy, called him the “first medical consultant in the subcontinent of India, who towered over his contemporaries in several fields”.
- The Government honoured him with the country’s highest civilian award, Bharat Ratna, in 1961.
- Further, the B.C. Roy National Award was instituted in 1976 for work in the area of medicine, politics, science, philosophy, literature and arts.