Union minister Dr Mansukh to inaugurate International Doctors’ Conference

Union minister for health and family welfare, Sri Dr Mansukh Mandaviya to inaugurate the International Doctors’ Conference on Thursday (April 21) in Bengaluru, Aster CMI hospital’s Metabolic department head and Organizing chairman Dr H. V. Shivaram said this in a joint press conference.
With obesity turning into an emerging health crisis across the nation, the Obesity and Metabolic Surgery Society of India is organizing 19th National Conference at Charaka Hall of Hotel Sheraton Grand, Brigade Gateway, Bengaluru.
Dr Shivaram said that Sri. Dr. Mandaviya will be inaugurating this gala event and Association of Surgeons of India’s president Sri Dr. G. S. Siddesh, will be the Guest of Honour. “Both will address the delegates on 21st April,” he added.
He said that they were also organising “Fight Obesity Walkathon” which is organised on 22nd April to create awareness amongst the public.
“The experts in the field of nutrition, physical fitness, behavioral changes, metabolic surgery, nursing care, health equipment manufacturers, startup companies etc. are flying down to our city and having brainstorming sessions for three days to discuss the latest developments in this field and to plan ahead for the next decade on how to face this greatest public health challenge of our times,” he said.
Dr Shivaram also hinted that the summit will also take a close look into a breakthrough medicine developed by a pharma company to treat obesity.
Aster CMI hospital’s Metabolic department head, Dr Shivaram, Manipal Hospital’s surgery department head, Dr Sumit Talwar, Trustwell Hospital’s gastroenterology department head, Dr Manish Joshi and Dr Ambedkar Medical College’s Prof. Dr Hosni Mubarak Khan addressed this joint press conference.
Organising chairman, Dr Shivakumar said: “Post Covid and prolonged spells of lockdowns have resulted in obesity across the country. We need to address this issue. It is time for everyone to focus on a balanced diet instead of leading an unhealthy sedentary lifestyle.”
He added that Obesity has been declared as a disease and medical insurance now covers the surgical treatment of morbid obesity which is as safe as any other surgery. “This is the only scientifically proven method with long-term benefits and sustained weight loss and it also treats associated diseases like diabetes. According to recent study more than 40% of Indians are obese and the recent Covid restrictions have accentuated the obesity problem,” he explained.
He emphasised that there is an urgent need to bring changes in the eating habits and increase the physical activity across all ages to mitigate this enormous health issue. “The ongoing pandemic (Covid 19) has opened the eyes of the public about the importance of maintaining good health, preventive measures, and immunity. In fact it is the obese patients who suffered most, had high ICU admission and lost life during the tragic times of Covid,” he said.