‘No safety for docs due to political interference’

Director of Bengaluru-based Jayadeva Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences and Research Dr C N Manjunath said on Saturday that the 'maldistribution' of doctors in semi-urban and rural areas is due to a lack of conducive working atmosphere.

"There is no safety for doctors because of local political interference," Dr Manjunath stressed while addressing a gathering at 'Spectrum', a cardiology conference, organised by A J Hospital and Research Centre at Hotel Ocean Pearl.

"Karnataka enjoys a health ratio of one doctor for every 5,000 population. Even if the state had millions of doctors, there will be fewer doctors working in villages,” he said.

Dr Manjunath said the medical field is a war zone because of IDIOT (Internet Derived Information Obstruction Treatment) syndrome. The doctors have become a soft target in the country, he said and added that Internet may have connected the world, but it has disconnected people from their friends, he said.

He said the doctors have become high-risk for all lifestyle diseases. “ An annual health camp for doctors is the need of the hour,” he said as the audience roared with laughter.

Prof S G S Prabhu, former head of Cardiology Department, KMC, Manipal, inaugurated the 'Spectrum'. AJ Institute of Medical Sciences Dean Dr Ashok Hegde, A J Group Institutions President A J Shetty, Conference Organising Chairman Dr B V Manjunath and others were present.