“Minimal access is not just about endoscopy or vaginal surgery, as Indian gynaecologists are already the best skilled surgeons in the world. But it is about the latest technologies such as Assisted Reproductive Therapy (ART), sonography, uro-gynaecology reaching the doorstep of the patient who has minimal access to healthcare,” says Dr Prakash Trivedi on the sidelines of his speech while taking over as the President of the Federation of Obstreticians and Gynaecologists Society of India (FOGSI) for the year 2015 at an event in Chennai.
Dr Trivedi, the newly elected FOGSI President, is the director of Total Health Care, NILES & Aakar IVF-ICSI Centre as well as the Professor & Head of department of Rajawadi Hospital, Ghatkopar. He also happens to be the current president of the Indian Association of Gynaecological Endoscopists (IAGE) (2013-15).
Dr Trivedi took over as the president of FOGSI in the esteemed presence of Dr Jacob Kumaresan of WHO New York. Adding glamour and starry glitter to the event were renowned film star Kamal Haasan and actress Aishwarya Rai Bachhan. In his address, Dr Kumaresan focussed on the maternal mortality rate, which has been a cause for concern in India, and also stressed on social issues related to women’s health. In his address, Dr Trivedi announced that FOGSI’s theme for the year 2015 would be “Minimal Access Maximum Care,” with the smallest incision or even no incision at all.
“With many women increasingly putting off motherhood till their late 30s, pregnancy in high risk mothers will be another area of focus,” Dr Trivedi explained, adding that “doctors would be trained all through the year to concentrate and identify and take care of high risk mothers to reduce the chances of mortality.”
FOGSI, one of the biggest Obstetrics & Gynaecological Federation of Societies in the world having around 29,000 gynaecologists under its fold from across the country has a force of 50 committed workers with Dr H D Pai as the secretary general supported by 460 chiefs in 229 societies.
Among several ambitious projects announced by Dr Trivedi was a plan to organise one event per month in different parts of India, for junior as well as senior gynaecologists and the introduction of teaching lectures on new and better treatment options and techniques for female patients. He also pledged FOGSI’s support for the Prime Minister’s Beti Bachhao & Beti Ko Padhao movement.
Special focus would be given to training and honing the skills of young doctors and surgeons from Yuva FOGSI. “The young gynaecologists and obstreticians of India are our true wealth. We cannot prepare the future for our youth but we can prepare our youth for the future,” he said.
He ended his address on a positive note assuring the august gathering that FOGSI’s 29,000 strong force would align with the government and the health ministry and help bring down maternal and infant mortality rates across the country.