Prof. Riyaz Punjabi, the Vice Chancellor of Kashmir University, while speaking on the occasion of Doctors' Day at SKIMS made a right observation that doctors never retire. A doctor can easily move to private sector after superannuation. While asking doctors to guard their self-respect, he advised them to shun inferiority-complex and present themselves with dignity and courage, and not to get over-awed by authorities. "Prof. Punjabi asked doctors not to run after govt. jobs as they can establish themselves in the private sector with their skill. He noted with disgust that doctors by and large harbor an inferiority complex and ruin their dignity by running after people, especially the ones who are in authority. He wished them to play a wider social role and try to learn things beyond medicine"

It is a stark reality that doctors by and large lack exposure, their interactions at social level are virtually non-existent, and are limited to diagnosing a disease and curing a patient, if any. Most of the times it means nothing but business. These interactions do not make them wiser on subjects like literature, history, or social behavior. A doctor is thus a cocooned entity, and when he comes out of the shell, he is jittery and not confident of his behavior. He feels ridiculously euphoric if a politician or a minister accepts his invitation. But there are exceptions – a number of stalwarts in the medical profession never bothered to get closer to the power apparatus. They never bowed before authorities. Dr. Syed Nasir Ahmad Shah on his return from Lahore in late 40s did not beg for a government  job, though with a little effort he could manage to get it easily, but that would mean to him a compromise with ego and respect. He had over-heard a remark on approaching the employing authority and the remark had injured his sentiments. He started a clinic in private sector at Drugjan, Srinagar, and left the idea of govt. service. He worked hard and attracted large crowds of patients. He ultimately went overseas to England and returned to join on an honorable position at GMC Srinagar, rising to the post of Principal. He became a reputed physician of the state. He would help poor patients and general public from lower socioeconomic groups. Thus apart from his profession he was known as socialist of great eminence. He was a great fan of Faiz Ahmad Faiz, and once he told me to read his famous poem, “Bol ki lab azaad hein teray”. I purchased “Naqshey-faryaadi” and other books of Faiz. It was an intoxicating experience to read his poetry. I would recommend certain of my colleagues to read Faiz to enlighten their intellect. Once in Lucknow, I asked my colleague, Dr. Parvez to purchase “Nuskhayey Wafa” – a compilation of the poems of the great poet. Though Lucknow is a city of culture and tradition, it is not in tune with the revolt and turmoil which Faiz Ahmad Faiz symbolizes.

Dr. Ali Jan – another stalwart – with his professional competence became a legend and politicians and leaders most often had to seek a prior appointment for consultation. They could not take a liberty of entering his clinic at will. He would also make it a point to join people from various segments of the society every evening after leaving his clinic. He imparted dignity to our profession. I have once seen him reading Sahir Ludhyanvi's “Talkhiyaan”. What I mean to say is that a doctor has to behave with courage in the society but it needs professional competence, efficiency, knowledge of the subject, and then he does not need to run after the people or crave for publicity. People will come to him with love, and fame and publicity will be a natural consequence. His relations with the patient should be accommodating, affectionate, and soft. This aspect was stressed by Prof. (Dr) Muhammad Yousuf, Ex-HoD Medicine, Medical College Srinagar. He wished that a doctor working in peripheral areas of the state should be given due recognition for their work, which they usually perform under difficult situations.

Another doctor both professionally and socially important is Prof. M.S. Khuroo. He too never behaved like a coward. He always kept his head high and resigned from a prestigious post when it was a question of dignity and self respect. Apart from his professional duties, he harbors a dream about SKIMS – he loves this hospital more than he loves his home. He asked a number of doctors to join the institute when it was started in 1980s. He came to my house and persuaded me to join the place after I had returned from Saudi Arabia. He has never got cowed down by authorities. It is because he is perfect in his profession and is an internationally recognized legend. An incompetent doctor will always be in a state of servile submission before any Tom, Dick and Harry. I don't mean that a doctor has to be arrogant. I mean to say that a doctor has to be bold, confident, and assertive. This is possible only when he is really competent and is socially recognized. I remember my guide during my post graduation in medicine. He was Prof. (Dr) Mehraj-u-din, whom every doctor would fear, not because he was ruthless, but because he was scrupulously honest and perfect in his knowledge of medicine. I was then working at SMHS hospital with Dr. Alaqaband. I admitted a politician and arranged a side room for him, keeping in view his social status. I was then a very junior doctor. Prof. Mehraj-u-din got annoyed with me and advised me not to give importance to politicians. He would be all out for poor and helpless patients. Apart from his profession, he would love to read books unrelated to medicine. He is a fan of Allama-Iqbal.
A doctor who holds a position in administration has to be innovative. When Pof. Syed Zahoor took over as director SKIMS he wished that the research done by students should be debated and discussed before the whole community of doctors and started a post graduate research program, which is now held every year in the auditorium of SKIMS. It is a highly creative activity for both junior and senior doctors.

Prof. G. Q. Allaqaband, the reputable physician of Kashmir too keeps himself busy in social activities. He would love to read “Aeena” edited by late Shamim Ahmad Shamim. He would occasionally ask me to get one book or the other if he was not personally able to procure one. He has been treating politicians of various hues, not necessarily subscribing to their view-point.

The intention to write all this is to make doctors aware of their value and potential, and how they should establish in a society. In my humble speech at the end, I suggested to the authorities that they should send young doctors for extensive courses in trauma and emergency medicine, because there are growing cases of road accidents, blast and bullet injuries, and the like. Only such trained doctors can handle critically serious patients, and the emergency department of SKIMS should be equipped with real life support system, otherwise we will go on losing precious lives. I also suggested that we should send more and more doctors for getting training in super-specialties like neurology, gastroenterology, and cardiology and post them in district and sub-district hospitals. They can provide the patients specialized treatment in the peripheral areas of the valley itself. This way the tremendous load of patients on SKIMS will naturally go down and the doctors working in the institute will be able to work with more comfort.

It goes to the credit of Prof (Dr) Sheikh Ajaz, Dr. Viqar Jan, and Dr. Altaf Shah that they could organize the doctors day at SKIMS at a time when the whole of Srinagar was besieged, deserted, and curfewed. I wish SKIMS a bright future.

(Dr A. Wahid is Ex-HoD Medicine, SKIMS)

Lastupdate on : Sun, 4 Jul 2010 21:30:00 Mecca time
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