Dr. R. Ramesh has assumed office as the National Vice-President of the Indian Medical Association. A former Director of Health Services, Kerala, he brings decades of experience in public health, health administration and medical advocacy. He has earlier served as President of the IMA Kerala State branch and has been closely associated with the organisation at branch, district and state levels.
An alumnus of Calicut Medical College, Dr Ramesh joined the Kerala health services in 1993 and rose from Medical Officer at a Primary Health Centre to Director of Health Services, a post he held for three years. His career includes key roles such as District Medical Officer, Kannur; Principal of the Kerala State Institute of Health and Family Welfare; Additional Director of Health Services (Public Health); Managing Director of the Kerala Health Research and Welfare Society; and Project Director of the Kerala State AIDS Control Society. He was also awarded Best State Secretary and Best State President by the IMA at the national level.
Currently, he is leading a state-level initiative to strengthen leadership and communication skills among doctors. He is married to Dr Usha, an anaesthesiologist, and their daughter works as a software engineer in Budapest.
Dr. Ramesh highlighted key challenges facing doctors, including violence and cyberbullying against medical professionals, unemployment among young doctors, and the issue of mixopathy. He stressed the need to protect doctors, ensure systematic recruitment, and preserve the integrity of each system of medicine. Advising young doctors, he emphasised that hard work, honesty and ethics are essential for a successful medical career.
