The union health ministry’s request that doctors abstain from consuming alcohol at meetings, workshops, and seminars has received a range of reactions from the medical community. While some believe that improving working conditions should be the main priority, others thought this was a positive step.
The director general of health sciences recently asked physicians to abstain from alcohol in any form during medical conferences, seminars, and workshops in a letter to several doctor’s organizations, including the IMA professor Atul Goel. Goel suggested that doctors have a healthy lifestyle because they work in the medical field. He quoted statistics showing that non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are thought to be the cause of 63% of all fatalities in the nation, with cardiovascular illnesses accounting for 27% of all fatalities.
Doctors reported that conference and workshop organizers occasionally set up meals and beverages in the evening after busy academic activities throughout the day.
Anil Nayek, the national president of IMA, hailed this action as positive. Alcohol and cigarettes are harmful to everyone, regardless of occupation, according to the Association of Health Services Doctors. The group questioned why only the medical community was subject to this advice.
“The four main risk factors of cigarette use, physical inactivity, hazardous alcohol use, and unhealthy food have been the main drivers of the increase in NCDs. Numerous illnesses, including liver cirrhosis, various malignancies, traumas, and hemorrhagic strokes are associated with alcohol use. As health professionals, we should lead a healthy lifestyle, therefore it may be suggested that alcohol in any form be avoided during medical conferences, workshops, seminars, and CMEs in order to provide a positive example for others to follow.
Source: The Times of India