New Delhi: Union Minister for Health & Family Welfare, Jagat Prakash Nadda, presided as Chief Guest at the 53rd Foundation Day and Convocation of the University College of Medical Sciences (UCMS), University of Delhi. The ceremony, held at the UCMS campus, celebrated the achievements of graduates and underscored the vital role of healthcare professionals. Vinai Kumar Saxena, Lt. Governor of Delhi, also graced the event.
Addressing the gathering, Nadda acknowledged the indispensable contributions of healthcare workers, encouraging the graduates to embody compassion, integrity, and dedication in their careers. He highlighted the government’s commitment to building a robust healthcare system accessible to all, stating, “Your efforts should be focused on shaping our national vision of ‘Viksit Bharat’.”
Nadda emphasized that while basic education is a birthright, professional medical education is a privilege entrusted to a few. He urged the graduates to embrace greater responsibility, noting that the government invests between ₹30-35 lakh in each MBBS student’s education. He also highlighted the transformation in India’s healthcare sector following the 2017 National Health Policy, which introduced a holistic approach focused on preventive, integrative, and curative healthcare. Reaffirming the government’s healthcare goals, Nadda announced, “The Hon’ble Prime Minister Narendra Modi has promised to add 75,000 more medical seats within the next five years.”
During the convocation, degrees were awarded to 146 MBBS students, 145 MD/MS students, 17 B.Sc (MT) Radiology students, 4 M.Sc (R&MIT) students, and 62 merit-based awards were presented. Additionally, four certificates in Medical Laboratory Technology (MLT) were conferred, with Nadda personally recognizing outstanding achievements in medical sciences.
Lt. Governor Saxena extended his congratulations to the new graduates and commended UCMS’s commitment to training compassionate and skilled healthcare professionals. “This convocation is a testament to UCMS’s unwavering dedication to addressing India’s healthcare needs,” he remarked.
To commemorate the occasion, a special souvenir detailing UCMS’s academic accomplishments over the past year was released. Among the distinguished attendees were Prof. Balaram Pani, Dean of Colleges at the University of Delhi; Prof. (Dr.) Mahesh Verma, Chairperson of the UCMS Governing Body and Vice-Chancellor of Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University; Prof. B. Srinivas, Secretary of the National Medical Commission (NMC); Dr. Girish Tyagi, Registrar of the Delhi Medical Council and President-Elect of the Delhi Medical Association; and Dr. Amita Suneja, Principal of UCMS, along with senior officials from the Union Health Ministry.
The convocation marked a significant milestone for the graduates, families, and faculty, as these new healthcare professionals prepare to embark on their careers equipped with the knowledge and skills nurtured by one of India’s leading medical institutions.