Srinagar, Oct 14 (KNS): Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Wednesday called upon the medical fraternity to bridge the urban-rural healthcare divide, strengthen indigenous research and prioritise preventive healthcare while ensuring that technological advances do not diminish human compassion in medical practice.

In a message to Government Medical College (GMC) Srinagar on the occasion of a conference titled "Advancing Internal Medicine: From Evidence to Excellence in Clinical Practice", Sinha said modern diagnostic tools, medicines and treatment facilities must be accessible to patients in rural and remote areas.

"We must ensure that there is not even the slightest gap between urban and rural areas in access to facilities and available tools. This should be the first objective of this conference," he said.

The Lieutenant Governor expressed concern over the growing burden of lifestyle-related diseases, including diabetes, hypertension, obesity, fatty liver disease and cardiovascular ailments, even as infectious diseases continued to pose challenges.

He urged physicians to focus on early detection and community-level prevention campaigns, saying timely diagnosis could significantly reduce treatment costs.Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp Channel

Sinha also outlined six key priorities for the medical community over the next five years, including expanding access to medical knowledge through telemedicine and digital health platforms, strengthening research, promoting preventive care and using artificial intelligence responsibly without compromising clinical judgement.

He emphasised the need to address professional burnout and improve working conditions for doctors.

"Along with caring for patients, hospitals and institutions, it should be ensured that doctors are cared for too. Providing them with better workplaces and working conditions should be a priority," he said.

Highlighting the importance of indigenous medical research, Sinha said India's diverse population offered opportunities to generate scientific evidence relevant to local healthcare needs.

He congratulated GMC Srinagar for organising the conference and acknowledged its contribution to medical education and healthcare services across Jammu and Kashmir.

The Lieutenant Governor also urged young doctors to embrace innovation and learn from experienced physicians while maintaining compassion and patient trust at the centre of healthcare delivery.(KNS)