Renowned obstetrician and gynaecologist Dr Sharada Mulgaonkar Patil has taken over as the President of the Indian Medical Association (IMA), Goa State Branch. She was formally installed during the State Installation Ceremony held at BITS Goa on Sunday.
After assuming charge, Dr Patil announced the theme for her tenure, “Embracing Neurodiversity – Together We Care, Connect and Champion.” She stressed the urgent need to build awareness, understanding and inclusive healthcare systems for individuals with autism, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), learning disabilities and other neurodevelopmental conditions.
Addressing the media, Dr Patil said neurodiversity represents natural variations in the human brain and highlighted the responsibility of doctors to ensure healthcare that is empathetic, accessible and inclusive. “As medical professionals, we must care, connect and champion the needs of every individual,” she said.
She noted that lack of awareness about neurodiversity often creates challenges for both children and their parents. Through this initiative, she said, IMA aims to take a meaningful step toward improving the lives of neurodiverse individuals and their families. Dr Patil also pointed out that people with autism, ADHD and learning disabilities frequently face barriers in accessing appropriate medical care, underlining the need for more sensitive and inclusive healthcare services.
The ceremony was attended by Health Secretary Yetindra Maralkar, senior doctors, former IMA office-bearers, BITS Goa Dean Meenal Kaushik and other distinguished guests.
Speaking on the occasion, Health Secretary Yetindra Maralkar emphasized the need to train police and judicial authorities to effectively handle cases of violence against doctors. He said incidents of attacks on medical professionals are on the rise and must not be tolerated. “We need stringent regulations to prevent such incidents, and amendments are being considered to strengthen the protection of doctors,” he said.
Maralkar also highlighted that nearly 10 per cent of Goa’s population is neurodiverse, calling it a significant figure. He praised the medical community’s efforts in addressing neurodiversity and expressed confidence that under Dr Patil’s leadership, meaningful support will be extended to neurodiverse individuals and their families across the state.
