The doctors and medical students at a largely attended seminar in Thirunelvelli (Tamil Nadu) on 26th August 2007 expressed serious concern over the policies of the government which are leading to corporatisation of health care thus making it out of reach for the common man. The seminar was organized jointly by the Indian Doctors for Peace and Development (IDPD) and Doctors Association for Social Equality (DASE) Tamil Nadu. Inaugurating the seminar, Dr.Arun Mitra - General Secretary IDPD said that these changes are occurring after the government under the structural adjustments programme on the diktat of the World Trade Organization (WTO) changed the whole concept of health as a social responsibility to health as a business. The whole effort is to promote techno centric concept of health rather than promoting health through fulfilling the basic needs of the people like supply of clean drinking water, sanitation services, better opportunities for education, improved job situation & shelter to the people as laid down in the Alma Ata declaration. To make the things worse, where as the expenditure on health and education remains to about 3-4% of the budget, it is to the tune of about 20% for defense. We have fallen trap to the nuclear arms race which is going to exhaust our resources.

Dr Ravindranath – Secretary IDPD and General Secretary DASE Tamil Nadu strongly criticized the government’s proposal for compulsory rural service and to increase the MBBS course by one year. The government has not only not done any thing to improve the infrastructure in the rural areas, rather it is out to create joblessness among the young doctors. There is need to employ doctors on permanent basis and to provide them proper facilities in the centres of work. The increase in the duration of MBBS course will prevent women, middle class and oppressed sections of people from opting for medicine courses. The plan to start small clinics by the corporate sector should be immediately withdrawn.

The seminar passed resolutions to demand the above mentioned and decided to wear black badges in Tamil Nadu on 3rd September and observe one day token strike on 5th September.

Through another resolution the seminar demanded from the central government not to implement the Indo-US nuclear deal as it will lead to increase in the arms race in the region, affect the security and peace in South Asia, will throttle efforts to produce energy from renewable resources. This would lead to cut in the expenditure on health, education and other social security scheme. Those who addressed the seminar include Dr.V.Jeevanandham – President IDPD and Dasee Tamil Nadu, Dr.T.Mohan, Dr.D.Aram, Dr.U.P.Srinivas, Dr.P.Durai, Dr.R.Sunder, Dr.Rajesh, Dr.Jawahar, Dr.Basupathy, Dr.Kannan and medical student Mr.Rangasamy.

On 25th August 2007 a meeting of the doctors was held in Thiruvanathapuram (Kerala). It was coordinated by Dr.Sajeed. The meeting expressed concern at the Indo-US nuclear deal and the arms race in the region. Dr Arun Mitra - General Secretary IDPD addressed the gathering. Dr Iype Joseph from Epidemiology Centre made a presentation on the problem on Chikungunya in Kerala. The meeting decided to hold a big seminar in near future on the theme of peace, health and development. Prominent among those who participated in the meeting are Dr.Santosh Kumar, Dr.Bennet Xylem, Dr.Shibu Vijayan, Dr.Subhash, Dr.Pramod, Dr.Sunil, Dr.Sajeesh, Dr.Happy and Dr.Rajayyan


Dr Arun Mitra
General Secretary