Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday praised the efforts of Dr Padmanabha Kamath, a Mangaluru-based doctor who has helped in setting up ECG machines at Jan Ausadhi centres across the state.
Dr Kamath, a professor and head of the Department of Cardiology, Kasturba Medical College Hospital, Mangaluru, took part in a virtual interaction with PM Modi as part of Jan Aushadhi Divas or Generic Medicine Day at Brahmavar in Udupi.
The PM tweeted, “Dr Kamath from Mangaluru emphasised on two things: His own work to help solve heart-related ailments. How the Jan Aushadhi scheme is fast becoming a Jan Upyogi scheme and giving a life of dignity to many people.”
Lauding Kamath, Modi said, “Your innovative thinking has helped many.”
“I am delighted and happy. The prime minister has understood the whole concept of how the Jan Aushadhi scheme is becoming a Jan Upyogi scheme,” said Kamath.
The doctor later tweeted, “Today was the day... and I spoke my heart out at the Janaushadhi diwas award function interacting with our beloved PM.”
"This brought tears in my eyes..When Sri Modiji said doctor saab Seva aapka samskaar hai.. doctor naam me aap ek moorthroop hai .. simply unforgettable.. Modiji I will remember this forever,: he added in another tweet.
During his virtual interaction, Kamath said “I have been part of the Jan Aushadhi Abhiyan for the last three years. When I noticed people in rural areas were losing their lives due to delay in diagnosis, we, under the initiative of Cardiology at Doorstep (CAD), started Kayakalpa to install ECG machines in Jan Aushadhi centres. These centres in rural areas remain open till late at night. With the help of the machines, several heart attacks have been diagnosed and lives have been saved. The machines have been installed at 20 Jan Aushadhi centres in six districts of Karnataka,” he said.
He explained how he helped a youth to set up a Jan Aushadhi centre in Mangaluru, where an ECG machine has been installed.
Sunder Poojary, owner of the Jan Aushadhi Kendra and Sandeep Poojary, a beneficiary, were also selected to interact with the PM.