By IANS
New Delhi : Health Minister Anbumani Ramadoss Thursday sought to play down his remark that a doctor from Bihar was the sole reason for Britain to derecognise Indian medical degrees, saying he as a doctor would not like to defame any other medical practitioner from another state.
“I am also a doctor. I will be the last person to denigrate or defame any doctor from any state. It is a noble profession and I respect everyone coming from any state – be it Bihar or Uttar Pradesh,” he told reporters here.
At a meeting of the American Association of Physicians of Indian origin (AAPI) last Friday, he had made the statement that ignited a controversy and protests from hundreds of doctors in Bihar.
BJP leader Vijay Kumar Malhotra boycotted a crucial All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) meeting Thursday citing the minister’s statement.
Ramadoss said senior doctors told him that Britain unilaterally revoked recognition to the medical degrees issued by India in the early 1970s as a doctor from Bihar was found to have done something wrong.
“I have always said that Indian doctors are the best in the world. I have lot of respect for doctors from Bihar,” he said.
The minister said the government was planning to recognise postgraduate medical degrees issued by Britain, the US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and later by Singapore.
“We believe that these countries will reciprocate in a similar fashion,” Ramadoss said.