Dharamsala, HP, India, 28 February 2012 (By Tendar Tsering, phayul.com) - His Holiness the Dalai Lama presided over the
Indian Association of Preventive and Social Medicine conference at the
Dr Rajendra Prasad Government Medical College near his exile hometown of
Dharamshala earlier today.
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His Holiness the Dalai Lama and
fellow participants lighting a lamp to open the 39th annual Indian
Association of Preventative and Social Medicine 2012 conference in
Kangra, HP, India, on February 28, 2012. Photo/Tenzin Choejor/OHHDL
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"This is the first time that IAPSM
conference is being held in the state of Himachal Pradesh, and we feel
blessed with the presence of the Dalai Lama," Anil Chauhan, principal of
the medical college said in his welcome speech.
Founded in 1974,
IAPSM is a non-profit professional organisation of medical specialists
dedicated to the promotion of public health and advocates education,
research, and programs of community medicine.
Addressing the
gathering of over 300 doctors from 24 states in India and Nepal, the
Tibetan spiritual leader urged the doctors to work not just for salary
but with “care, compassion, and sense of concern” for the patients.
"Don't be like machines,” the Dalai Lama said. “Treat patients with care and warm heartedness. Love is important."
Touching
upon the “corruption epidemic” plaguing the world, the Nobel Peace
Laureate remarked that in a deeply religious country like India, there
should be no space for corruption and violence.
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His Holiness the Dalai Lama
responding to questions at the 39th annual Indian Association of
Preventative and Social Medicine 2012 national conference in Kangra, HP,
India, on February 28, 2012. Photo/Tenzin Choejor/OHHDL
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"No religious
tradition preaches violence, hatred, cheating and corruption," the Dalai
Lama said. "If we adhere to religious tradition, there is no space for
corruption and violence."
The three-day annual national conference of the IAPSM being held at the
Sobha Singh Auditorium of Dr. Rajindea Prashad Government Medical
college, Tanda in Kangra district was inaugurated by Himachal Pradesh
Chief Minister Prof. Prem Kumar Dhumal yesterday.
While speaking
to Phayul, principal of the college said the focus of the conference was
on understanding emerging trends in disease pattern globally and its
implications to local conditions.
"This conference which is the
39th in the series, is very important because the conference will not
only discuss the health problems in the rural areas but also try to
provide solutions to the problems," the principal said.
Rajendra
Prasad Medical College, named after independent India’s first president,
provides scholarship to two Tibetan students to study medicine every
year.
Kalon Dr Tsering Wangchuk of the Health Department, Central
Tibetan Administration and Tibetan Chief Medical Officer Dr Tseten
Sadutshang were also in attendance at the conference.
