- President Droupadi Murmu spoke at AIIMS Bilaspur's first convocation in Himachal Pradesh
- She urged doctors to combine knowledge and skill with sensitivity and compassion
- AIIMS Bilaspur must become a premier centre for advanced tertiary healthcare
- Telemedicine and specialist consultations are needed for remote hilly areas
- Ayushman Bharat-PM Jan Arogya Yojana gives up to ₹5 lakh cover per family per year
President Droupadi Murmu told doctors on October 6, 2026, that medicine must serve humanity. She spoke at the first convocation of AIIMS Bilaspur in Bilaspur, Himachal Pradesh.
Compassion alongside skill
Murmu said a sick person comes to a doctor carrying fear and uncertainty, but also hope. She said a doctor’s empathy gives the patient courage, along with medical knowledge and skill. She urged doctors to bring sensitivity and compassion to their work while aiming for excellence.
She said quality care at minimal cost is the hallmark of AIIMS. She added that several AIIMS across the country were set up so that more people could benefit and more meritorious students could get top-tier medical education.
Challenge in remote hill areas
Murmu said AIIMS Bilaspur has a special responsibility because of its location. Delivering timely healthcare to people in remote parts of Himachal Pradesh is a complex challenge, she said.
She said the institute must become a premier centre for advanced tertiary healthcare. She called for stronger services in hilly areas through telemedicine, specialist consultations for remote regions, training of medical staff and use of the latest technologies.
Cost burden and affordable care
Murmu said the cost of treating a serious illness places a heavy financial burden on common people. She said the Government of India provides health insurance cover of up to ₹5 lakh per family per year under the Ayushman Bharat-Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana to ease this hardship for vulnerable sections.
She said affordable healthcare is a collective responsibility. She pointed to the rising cost of medical equipment and medicines as a serious challenge for patients and their families. She said developing affordable, accessible and cost-effective healthcare is both a challenge and an opportunity for institutions like AIIMS.
