THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Mizoram Governor Kummanam Rajasekaran said that hospitals should not be motivated by profits and instead should develop into centres for social change. He was speaking after unveiling the NABH certification received by Attukal Devi Institute of Medical Sciences on Sunday.
Hospitals have changed into centres aimed at just curing diseases. Social reformers such as Mahatma Ayyankali had worked among the people affected by deadly diseases and this changed the fear and loneliness of the patients. Such activities should be taken up, he said.
Diseases that were once eradicated have staged a comeback. Lifestyle diseases such as cardiac diseases and cancer are spreading. Mental illness is also on the rise and this is owing to tension among the people, he said. Hospitals should work among the public to create awareness on such diseases and stop becoming places where diseases are treated, he said.
He also inaugurated the Ayyankali Sadhu Jana Chikilsa Padhathi at the hospital.
Nemom MLA O Rajagopal presided over the meeting. In a message, Health Minister K K Shylaja said providing free treatment for the poor is part of social commitment and added that the Ayyankali Sadhu Jana Chikilsa Padhathi will be an example to be emulated.
RSS prantha sangachalak (state president) P E B Menon inaugurated the Abhay scheme and the thyroid and obesity clinic. Dr R Ayyappan Nair, R C Beena, Dr Biju I G and M Jayakumar spoke on the occasion.