Doctors' Day: What is it? Here's why IMA's advisory to its members for healthy living makes sense

New Delhi: Each year, the first day of the month of July is celebrated as National Doctors' Day. The event is to recognise the contributions of physicians to individuals and communities.

Celebrated across India, the day is to honour the legendary physician and the second Chief Minister of West Bengal, Dr Bidhan Chandra Roy, who was born on July 1, 1882 and died on the same date in 1962, aged 80 years.

The Doctors' Day is observed to lay emphasis on the value of doctors in our lives. It is an occasion to give them their due respect through commemorating one of their greatest representatives.

India has shown remarkable improvements in the medical field and the event pays a perfect tribute to all the doctors who have made relentless efforts towards achieving this goal irrespective of the odds.

In a recent advisory guidelines to its office-bearers, the Indian Medical Association (IMA) has directed to refrain from drinking with “non-doctors” to promote healthy living and become “brand ambassadors of health” for the society.

It says doctors have a responsibility to put into practice what they preach to patients on leading a healthy lifestyle.

“No alcohol should be served at IMA meetings,” says the advisory, which is part of the IMA’s “alcohol policy”.

IMA also suggests a “safe limit” for alcohol consumption - 18 ml for male and 9 ml for female doctors.

The representative voluntary organisation of doctors has also asked its members to observe dry days on July 1 (Doctors’ Day) and September 5 (Teachers’ Day).