Address by Governor at the presentation of the Dhanwantari Award to Dr Sultan Pradhan

Address by Shri CH. Vidyasagar Rao, Governor of Maharashtra at the presentation of the Dhanwantari Award to Dr Sultan Pradhan, Oncologist at the Crystal Room, Hotel Taj Mahal Palace at 4.15 pm on Sunday, 7th October 2018

Shri Sharad Pawar, former Union Minister, Shri Sushil Kumar Shinde, former Union Minister, Dr D Y Patil, former Governor of Tripura and Bihar, Dr Lekha Adik Pathak, Chairperson of the Dr B K Goyal Heart Foundation, Shri Rahul Goyal, Shri Bharat Kumar Taparia, Chairman, Bombay Hospital Trust, the most distinguished recipient of this year’s Dhanwantari Award and Chief of Onco Surgery Department of the Prince Aly Khan Hospital Dr Sultan Pradhan, past recipients of the Dhanwantari Award, members of the medical fraternity, invitees, admirers of Dr B K Goyal, ladies and gentlemen,

I am delighted and feel honoured to present the most prestigious Dhanwantari Award to Dr Sultan Pradhan for his outstanding and multidimensional service to society and the field of medicine.

Since taking charge as Governor of Maharashtra, I have never missed the Dhanwantari Award function. Of course, my record of attending this function is nothing, when compared to Hon’ble Shri Sushil Kumar Shinde Ji who has attended the Dhanwantari Awards function every year for more than 40 years.

For the first time, we are missing the towering and cheerful presence of Padma Vibhushan Dr B K Goyal at this function. His services to the field of Cardiology were immeasurable. For nearly four decades, Dr Goyal had become synonymous with the Bombay Hospital, mentoring many young doctors and surgeons under his guidance. He dedicated his life to create awareness about heart diseases and brought advanced technologies to India. Dr Goyal will always be remembered for his discipline, dedication, punctuality and affection to the people.

Dr Lekha Adik- Pathak, renowned Cardiologist has done a great favour to society by organizing the Dhanwantari Awards function without a break.

Dr Lekha Pathak, Shri Rahul Goyal and Shri Jivraj Shah deserve our compliments and kudos for continuing the tradition of honoring excellence in medical profession through the Foundation.

Ladies and gentlemen,

Today’s Dhanwantari Awardee Dr Sultan Pradhan is a Gentle Giant in the field of Cancer Surgery and the Surgery of the Head and Neck.

A world class cancer surgeon and an equally brilliant academician and researcher, Dr Pradhan has spent his lifetime fighting with no less a person than Yamaraj. He has given a new lease of life to thousands of cancer patients in the country and even outside. To many of the cancer survivors, Dr Sultan Pradhan remains an Angel, a miracle Man and the only Ray of Hope.

I was pleased to know that Dr Pradhan was instrumental in establishing the Cancer Rehabilitation Clinic (CRC) which offers moral and emotional support to cancer survivors. Through the Cancer Rehabilitation Clinic, he has been giving solace and confidence to lead a new life to thousands of cancer survivors.

I congratulate Dr Sultan Pradhan for being selected for the most coveted Dhanwantari Award for this year.

Ladies and gentlemen,

Earlier this year, I was talking to a group of experts working in the area of healthcare in the remote areas of Maharashtra. I was shocked to know that school children, as young as 12 to 15 years of age, living in the Gadchiroli district, had become addicted to chewing tobacco, gutkha and scented supari.

Even though gutkha is banned in the State, people have devised new ways to package and sell gutkha illegally. I dread to think what will happen to these children by the time damage is done.

Cancer treatment is expensive, mutilating and time consuming. Many families are ruined completely when one member of the family suffers from cancer. We need a multi-pronged strategy to protect people from consuming tobacco in all forms. I wish and hope that Ayushman Bharat: Pradhan Mantri Jan Aroyga Yojana will help the poor cancer patients to undertake treatment at the best hospitals.

Unlike in the past, when there was only one Hospital for treatment of cancer, today many private hospitals in big cities are offering treatment of cancer. This is certainly a welcome development. However, we must strengthen public hospitals offering cancer treatment.

A century ago, many philanthropic people of Mumbai including Sir Jamsetjee Jejeebhoy, David Sassoon, Nana Sunkersett and others built Hospitals, Sanatoriums, Dharamshalas and Schools from their own money. Today there are more rich people in India than in the past. But the spirit of philanthropy is declining. We need to revive philanthropy and reward philanthropic individuals. Time has come for each one of us, to discharge Individual Social Responsibility for the benefit of society.

While we need more Cancer Hospitals and strengthen the existing ones, we also need many more Rugna Seva Sadan to offer shelter to the relatives of people and patients who need to stay in the city for long treatment. Public – private partnership can work wonders in the field of social service.

With these words, I congratulate the Dhanwantari Medical Foundation for organizing this felicitation function and convey my appreciation to Dr Lekha Adik Pathak, Shri Rahul Goyal, Shri Jivraj Shah and others. I also convey my heartiest congratulations to Dr Sultan Pradhan on receiving the prestigious award.

Thank you

Jai Hind ! Jai Maharashtra !!