President Droupadi Murmu has urged the first batch of doctors graduating from AIIMS Bilaspur to voluntarily serve in remote and rural areas of Himachal Pradesh. She spoke at the first convocation of the institute. The President said doctors are often reluctant to work in rural and backward areas, and asked the graduating students to take up that challenge.
What President Murmu Said at AIIMS Bilaspur Convocation
The President made a direct appeal to the new doctors. She said she hopes they will voluntarily serve people living in remote and far-flung areas. She added that she can relate to this issue because it also affects her native place.
"I hope all of you will voluntarily serve people residing in the remote and far-flung areas as I can relate with this issue, which plagues my native place also." — President Droupadi Murmu
She also called medicine a noble profession. According to the President, people place their trust in doctors, which makes the duty of serving them even more important.
Who Was Present at the First Convocation
The event was attended by senior leaders from the state and the Centre. Himachal Pradesh Governor Kavinder Gupta, Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu and Union Health Minister JP Nadda were present on the occasion.
- The convocation was the first for AIIMS Bilaspur
- The graduating batch is the institute's first group of doctors
- The President's appeal focused on rural and backward areas of Himachal Pradesh
- She linked the issue to her own native place
Why This Appeal Matters for Rural Healthcare
The President's message points to a real gap. Doctors trained at big institutes often prefer to stay in cities. Remote and rural areas then struggle to get medical staff. By asking the first AIIMS Bilaspur batch to serve these areas, the President has put the focus on a problem that affects patients far from cities.
Her personal comment about her native place also gives the appeal a human touch. It shows the issue is not just policy — it is something she has seen closely.
Our Take: A Simple Appeal That Needs Real Support
In our view, the President's words carry weight because they come from personal experience. But appeals alone will not fix rural healthcare. If young doctors are expected to work in remote areas, they need basic support — good facilities, safety, and a clear career path. Without that, even willing doctors may hesitate.
To put it plainly, the first AIIMS Bilaspur batch has a chance to set an example. If even a small number of them choose rural service, it can send a strong message. But the system must meet them halfway. The President has raised the right issue. Now the focus should be on making rural service a real, workable choice for new doctors.