Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh, a distinguished Professor of Medicine and Diabetes, received the prestigious “Distinguished Mentor of the Year” award from the American College of Physicians (ACP) at the 9th Annual International Conference of the ACP – India Chapter held in Lucknow today. The accolade was presented by internationally renowned Dr. Elisa I. Choi.
During his inaugural address, Dr. Singh lauded India’s growing leadership in global health research and its significant contributions to medical health, research, and education. He emphasized the critical need for enhanced collaboration between private and public sectors and international organizations to further advance medical sciences.
Dr. Singh highlighted the success of India’s space sector, which, under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s initiative to open it up to private investments, has seen a substantial influx of several thousand crores and a notable increase in Space Startups. He noted that while India is grappling with a rise in non-communicable diseases, communicable diseases continue to persist. In contrast, Western nations that previously dealt primarily with non-communicable diseases are now also facing challenges with infectious diseases, particularly following the AIDS and COVID-19 pandemics.
Dr. Singh underscored the potential for India and the USA to collaborate more closely, leveraging India’s cost-effective research facilities, diverse medical conditions, and traditional medical knowledge. He also stressed the importance of prioritizing preventive healthcare for the younger generation, ensuring they are healthy and capable of contributing effectively to nation-building efforts as part of Prime Minister Modi’s vision for a “Viksit Bharat” by 2047.
In addition, Dr. Singh highlighted the expanding collaborations in various sectors, including space exploration. He referred to the recent participation of Indian astronaut Group Captain Shukla in an expedition to the International Space Station with American and international counterparts, reflecting the growing global engagement under PM Modi’s leadership.