Mangaluru : Health facilities are not accessible to people in rural areas, who comprise two third of the population of the country.

Hence, there is a need for hospitals to reach out to rural people, said Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences, Vice Chancellor Dr K S Ravindranath.

He was speaking as the chief guest during the Graduation Ceremony and Institution Day of Father Muller Charitable Institutions in Mangaluru on Friday. He further said despite major portion of the population being concentrated in rural areas, most of hospitals are situated in urban areas.

The primary health centres and community health centres are not adequate to provide health services to the people.

Also, there is shortage of specialists in the PHCs and CHCs. Dr K S Ravindranath stated there was a requirement of 450 doctors for every lakh patients, according to World Health Organisation. But, in India, there are only 250 professionals per lakh patients.

Unlike other courses, the course of medicine demands a great deal of commitment to serve the needy patients. As long as they are healthy, the doctors can continuously serve the patients and age bar is not an issue. Also, the Medical Council of India has permitted the medical professors to teach in medical colleges till the age of 75, he said.

Ravindranath further called upon the graduates to serve the patients with empathy, irrespective of the branch they are affiliated to.

Stating that one should not think about the returns, while treating the needy patients, he said and added that there was a need for the graduates of medicine to improvise clinical skills and update themselves regularly.

A total of 576 were conferred the degrees, including 100 in Homeopathy, 213 in nursing and 14 in speech and hearing.

Father Muller Charitable Institutions Vice President Rev Msgr Denis Moras Prabhu presided over the programme. FMCI Director Rev Fr Patrick Rodrigus, FMMCH Administrator Rev Fr Richard Coelho, FMMC Dean Dr J P Alva, Father Muller Homeopathic Medical College Principal Dr Shivaprasad K, Father Muller College of Nursing Principal Sr Winnifred D’Souza and Father Muller School of Nursing Principal Jasmine S Vas were present among others.