ASI - Karnataka

Dear fellow ASI members,

Wishing You & Your family a Happy & Fruitful year 2011.

Karnataka State Chapter has been contributing vibrantly in its activities since we last communicated to you all. CMEs were conducted at length & breadth of the state, namely Chikodi, Gadag, Bellary, Bangaluru, Bidar & Belgaum.

Chikodi branch was enthusiastic and enterprising in organizing a CME programme under the able leaderships of Drs Rohini Kulkarni, Dayanand Nooli & Ravindra Bhate. Showcasing local academic work in the form of a symposium was novel. All specializations were covered in the symposium ‘Endoscopy’.

This year another Annual CME & clinicals for postgraduates named SURGIQUEST at Bellary commenced under the stewardship of Drs. Vidyadhar Kinhal & Channanna. With increasing number of postgraduate students, it would be worthwhile to develop regional CME & clinicals centre for postgraduates in addition to the present B’luru. The popular Bangaluru PG CME attracted staggering 325 postgraduates! Being aware of inherent inertia & feasibility issues, yet I am sure with some leadership it would be possible to replicate the successful model of Bangaluru at Mangalore, Belgaum & Bellary as well.

Bidar was the latest city chapter to be inaugurated under the leadership of Drs. Ragate, Bali & Kamtikar. We wish this young & enthusiastic branch blossoms to make a mark across the state.

2-day CME at Belgaum was thoroughly organized and executed by Drs Shashi Uppin & Dr. Shrishail Metgud. In addition to the participation of local & invited faculty in the CME & clinicals this year, an quiz programme for the Post Graduates by Dr. C. S. Rajan was the highlight.

The Chairman had the privilege of Inaugurating & participating in a 2-day Basic Surgical Skill programme conducted by Mysore Medical College under the able leadership of Drs. Avadhani Geeta, Ramachandra & Ravikumar. Interestingly, they have been independently conducting this programme for last few years which has one novel programme ‘Guru Vandana’. Such good program needs to be associated with the State Chapter to increase the visibility and widen horizon.

The Annual PG teaching programme, conducted by Bangalore City branch stood to its reputation of cohesion, abundant clinical material and very high registration. This year’s mantle was undertaken by Drs Anjanappa, Kalaivani & Rajan. Quiz Master Dr. C. S. Rajan spearheaded the Annual Quiz Programme for Postgraduates impressively yet again.

On the chapter policy front, the present body noted two important areas where the chapter needs to ponder and take action. Firstly, there are hardly any districts in Karnataka that don’t have a medical college, needing a revisit to the existing reservation as medical College area & non medical college area. Secondly, need to digitize the records of the state chapter. This body made an effort to act on these however consensus seems to be eluding. I hope the efforts would continue by the next body for the benefit of deserving aspiring leaders.

Amidst unraveling of scams affecting every sphere of the society that reveal the nexus between the very guardians, healthcare sector is not likely to be far behind. Our profession has witnessed sudden change in its mode from unorganized small entrepreneur to capital intensive corporate enterprise. Already, there are loud allegations heard about existing nexus with drug & instrument industries that is detrimental to the interests of the patients. These exposures might act as a wakeup call to reflect.

Finally, health care delivery to consumer and healthcare sector as an industry are a reality today. However, the patient perception and regulatory rules are archaic. They need to be updated by proactive participation by us so as to make them contemporary or else we will be the ones facing onslaughts after media & lobbyists!

Kindly do visit us @ http://www.kscasi.com/ for more.

Wishing to see you at Bijapur,

Dr. Sharad M. Tanga
Chairman