The art and science of healing needs revival

WHILE THE MEDICAL FRATERNITY NEEDS TO REBOOT SERVICE AND ETHICS, SOCIETY, LAW KEEPERS AND THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD REBOOT TO SUPPORT THE PHYSICIAN AT ALL COSTS.

- SK Sarin

July 1, Doctor's Day, asks society to take a sacred pause, a moment to honour the unwavering commitment of doctors who serve throughout their life, often silently. On behalf of the medical fraternity, I want to thank everyone.

Yet, beyond the accolades and achievements, this day calls for something deeper: a renewal of the spirit of the physician, rooted not just in knowledge and skill but also in compassion, ethics, and purity of purpose. In a world increasingly governed by materialism, technology, and speed, it is time we reboot the physician within us. William Osler, one of the founders of Johns Hopkins Hospital, had said, "The practice of medicine is not a trade to be learned, but a calling to serve, to console, and to heal."

Between protocols and prescriptions, public or private health care, the art of medicine is under threat. The soul of the healer—the one who listens, who touches, who reassures—needs to be rekindled. A physician is not just a provider of treatment, but a custodian of hope, a sea of humanity.

The art of physical examination is slowly vanishing. Doctors have started leaning on blood and X-ray reports and AI models. The healing touch of compassion is dying. Compassion is more than kindness—it is the ability to suffer with someone. It is conveyed through words, silences, presence, and most powerfully, through touch. Patients remember your holding their hand, offering comfort beyond cures. Science treats. Compassion heals. Heal with purpose, not pride, even if you are the topmost doctor.