National Doctors’ Day: Celebrating the torchbearers of our health

Doctors are the pillars of a country's healthcare system, often sacrificing their own well-being while healing others. In India, we observe National Doctors' Day on 1st July, commemorating the birth anniversary of the visionary doctor, Dr. Bidhan Chandra Roy. On the occasion of National Doctors' Day, Timesofindia.com is hosting a digital conclave, bringing together doctors from diverse disciplines and policymakers, to recognize and celebrate these frontline health warriors and address their challenges. Titled National Doctors' Day: A tribute to the torchbearers of our health, this online symposium is an endeavour by TOI Medithon, an initiative to raise mass awareness about crucial ailments and empower patients with the right information about various aspects of these health concerns, their treatment options and much more.

The Doctors’ Day conclave is a day-long webi-thon, which will be aired on TOI's FB platform on 1st July. Find the detailed schedule here. In this online summit, there will be multiple panel discussions on topics ranging from physician burnout and alarming rise of violence against doctors, to how they stay healthy while healing others. Our distinguished panel of experts will delve into these topics, alongside exploring technological breakthroughs that benefit doctors, doctor-patient relationship in the age of the internet and misinformation, and where physicians draw the line in the era of telemedicine.

Some of the luminaries from the medical fraternity who will share their insights in this symposium include Dr. Naresh Trehan, Chairman & Managing Director, Medanta Heart Institute, Dr. Raman Gangakhedkar, Former Head, Division of Epidemiology and Communicable Diseases, ICMR, Dr. Sharad Kumar Agarwal, National President, Indian Medical Association, Dr Ashok Seth, Chairman, Fortis Escorts Heart Institute and Fortis Healthcare Medical Council, Dr. Duru Shah, Scientific Director of Gynaecworld and the Gynaecworld Assisted Fertility Center, Dr. Randeep Guleria, Former Director, AIIMS & Director of Medical Education, Respiratory and Sleep Medicine, Medanta, Dr. K Srinath Reddy, Former President, The Public Health Foundation of India (PHFI) & Distinguished Professor of Public Health, PHFI among many others.

‘Medicines cure diseases, but doctors cure patients.’ These words by renowned psychologist Carl Jung emphasize the invaluable contribution of doctors to humanity. National Doctors' Day provides a great platform to celebrate these real-life heroes wearing stethoscopes.