expansion of Public sector( New AIIMS and new Medical Colleges). �ere is an ever widening gap between supply and demand when it comes to accessibility and affordability of secondary and tertiary care. Majority population in the country lacks affordability and therefore accessibility. �ere is all around shortage of trained medical and paramedical human resource. How can we bridge this gap? I wish to continue to work towards developing models using digital technology, making it possible. I �rmly believe that it is possible to achieve and link healthcare with some form of health insurance. As little as a rupee a day will collect rupees 130 crores a day, 130x 30 = Rs. 3900 / month and 3900 x 12 = 46,800( forty six thousand Eight hundred crores). It would transform healthcare. I have thought of writing an autobiography,“ Ivory Tower”, with graphic details of the real inside story of AIIMS. I do not want to divulge too much at this stage but I have given a serious thought and would surely pen this down. �e way I conducted myself as Director, AIIMS, with the philosophy of“ Malice Towards None” with utmost honesty and transparency, without harming anyone, having a positive attitude and never allowed negativism to affect my working, I could achieve the above with my cohesive team. I would say if we all w o r k w i t h“ E m p a t hy”, C o m m u n i c a t i o n a n d Compassion, we will win trust of our patients, colleagues and everyone around. It seems unachievable but what I witnessed on the occasion of my farewell on 1st February 2017 in Jawahar Lal Auditorium was unbelievable; more than 1000 odd faculty and staff gathered with tears in their eyes and no one wanted me to depart. What more could I have asked? I think that it is the greatest asset I am carrying from AIIMS. I am an extremely satis�ed person today and will continue towards Nation building. H H: What advice you ' d like to give to us, the UG students so that we can prosper in our lives, both academically and generally? Dr. Misra: If any student approaches me for advice or counselling prior to taking up medical profession as a career, I make them understand and realise that medical profession is different from many other professions. At least as a doctor we must know two aspects of the medical profession: A. It takes a long time to become a specialist in the �eld of your specialisation i. e. it takes 11.5
I would say if we all work with“ Empathy”, Communication and Compassion, we will win trust of our patients, colleagues and everyone around.
years to come out as a specialist and / or Super specialist. I consider that every postgraduate, even if she / he is not going for super specialisation must take up a 3- years Senior Residency in the absence of DM / Mch. Senior Residency is obtaining“ higher training” in a general discipline where DM / Mch program is not that. It is the choice of the individual whether to go for some subspecialisation, although it is advisable to have some area of sub-specialisation. Even in Super specialties now there are sub-specialisations e. g. neurology( Stroke, epilepsy etc.), cardiology( Interventional cardiology, Preventive cardiology, Electrophysiology etc.). Even after having undergone 11.5 years, it takes a while before social recognition comes your way. It is lot of hard work. �erefore, one should be mentally prepared to spend long years before attaining a status in community and profession. For surgical disciplines, it is even harder since skills are linked to training. 2. Do not try and become“ RICH”: What I mean by this is that most of you in medical profession are better off and have some minimum living standards in society. But with ethical and honest practice, one does not become“ RICH” nor should one try to become rich by unfair means. Because if you run after money, you might land up doing things, which otherwise you would not. Examples are ordering unindicated investigations for a“ cut”, unindicated operations( hysterectomy scam in Bihar and Andhra Pradesh) and procedures. �ere is ongoing debate on high rates of caesarean section, cardiac stenting, joint replacements etc. At the end of the day, you will have a decent �nancial status. If both husband and wife are doctors / working, it is a very comfortable �nancial situation; if single earning male partner with home maker, things might be a little tight �nancially. I would say that to do well in life both academically and professionally, one needs clarity in his / her mind, as to what one wants to do in life. If you remain with Academics, you contribute in many ways by UG / PG Teaching and training, Research and Patient care( Clinical doctors). It gives you tremendous job satisfaction. And other side of the grass is always green. Bottom line in life is that you do, what you like most and that will make you happy; you will attain excellence, recognition and above all professional satisfaction even if monetarily you are less well off than your colleagues in