The Indian Radiological and Imaging Association is working with others to promote the idea girls and boys should be valued equally in India, its incoming president, Prof. Kishor Taori, said in an address to the association’s meeting in Ahmedabad. IRIA also supports the PC-PNDT law, which works to stop gender-based abortions. However, there should be degrees of punishment for radiologists because a missing signature also results in the seizure of an ultrasound machine, he said.

Prof. Taori also set as goals for IRIA, now in its 79th year, strengthening of postgraduate radiology education and a stronger role for association members in a national regional teleradiology network.

Presidential Address

Dr. ( Prof. ) Kishor Taori
President IRIA, 2010

Hon’ble Chief Guest Dr. Jaynarayan Vyas, Health Minister, Gujarat State; my learned predecessor, outgoing president Dr. Prabhakar Reddy; dignitaries on the dais and off the dais; organizing chairman Dr. Harshad Shah; distinguished guests from India and abroad; IRIA colleagues; my Vidarbha colleagues; students; representatives from healthcare industry; media; ladies and gentlemen.

It is a matter of great honour and pride to address this august gathering as president of IRIA, which is one of the greatest radiology organizations of the world. I am indeed happy today to be installed at Ahmedabad, the pious and holy land of Mahatma Gandhi, with rich cultural values and traditions. This prosperous state of Gujarat is in a position today to inspire the other states in our country in many spheres and walks of life.

Our esteemed association took birth in the year 1931 in Calcutta and, entering into its 79th year, it is becoming vibrant with age. With increase in our membership to more than 8000, the association is becoming younger in terms of mean age.

It is for all of us to appreciate the continuous efforts, which have been put in by my predecessors and their teams, to bring this association to this level. We are proud to have our own building at New Delhi, our academic wing-ICRI-and our journal, which has recently been indexed with PubMed. I congratulate the excellent work done by all the office bearers.

RELATIONSHIP TOWARDS THE STATUTORY ORGANIZATION:
As one of the biggest organizations of modern medicine, IRIA should have a good liaison with local corporations, respective state medical councils, and the Medical council of India, as well as other government organizations.

The modern radiology is a golden leaf added to every chapter of textbooks belonging to various other subjects like medicine, surgery, orthopedics, etc., at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels. None of the theory and practical examinations level can escape involvement of radiological imaging. The scope and interpretation of radiology at postgraduate level is still higher and virtually it is a part and parcel of curriculum. Such scope and essential role in precise diagnosis can no longer be neglected. The planners at both university and MCI levels will have to be concerned and realistic to bring radiology at undergraduate level in some or other form and also at the postgraduate courses other than the radiology.

It will be our endeavour to participate in shaping up the modern curriculum in the field of radiology at postgraduate level. We need to prescribe standard imaging modalities, which should be essentially installed at the teaching departments where the M.D and D.M.R.D courses are in operation.

PC-PNDT Act:

The provisions of PC-PNDT Act for “Save the Girl Child” are good on paper, but illogical on many occasions, causing harassment to the radiologist without having any desired results in the direction where it is contemplated to.

I will strive hard for strict implementation of PC-PNDT Act without causing any harassment to our honest doctors. IRIA will work in close liason with IMA for proper education of the society to change their mindset, ultimately coming to the conclusion that boy or girl is of a same value, pleasure, and demands equality in terms of parenting.

It will be our endeavour to convince the authorities for differential punishment for minor and major breach of the act. Presently, simple miss of the signature on any form can result in seizure of machine. The participation and relevant inputs are earnestly solicited from all the members of IRIA in understanding the PC- PNDT Act and smooth implementation of the same.

Radiology Practice:

My dear members of IRIA, we are all fortunate to be radiologists, which is at its zenith, and no patient in the government or private practice can remain untouched from radiologist’s interpretation. With the armamentarium at our disposal, we have almost become indispensable with a concrete place in modern management and healthcare.

The expectations of society at large are increasing. Now the equation that “necessity is the mother of invention” is changed to “invention is the mother of necessity.”

The other side of the coin is “the cost.” The planners, the government, representatives, and IRIA will have to apply their minds to bring the fruits of modern radiology to the doorstep of masses with affordable cost. It is important that some norms for fair practice in radiology are also established by IRIA and followed by our members to enhance the image of our community.

National Rural Health mission has given teleradiology hubs to all the regional institutes, which are connected the district hospitals. Further, the application of teleradiology may descend down to rural hospitals with installation of digital equipment, making the job of image transfer possible. In Maharashtra, we have already requested state government to establish telemedicine hub at every big IMA branch, wherein services of our IRIA members could be utilized for image interpretation.

Elevating the Next Generation:

More than 50% of the radiologists are below the age of 45 years. With many young radiologists around, including female radiologists, I could sense further rise in dynamism and youthful creative ideas in our profession.

How will the radiologist of coming generation look at us? Will they really marvel at our achievements today? Will they really admire us, applaud us, be grateful for what we are doing today, that will help shape their futures by providing enough directions? Would they be reading our records of nice work?

We will be judged by our future generation not for what has been done, but for what has been left undone. So let us rise from this centre stage and utilize this chance to maximum to make a mark in the future annals of IRIA. I do not know whether the promise is fulfilled. Maybe the goal will recede and pull us along, or it can be realized and even surpassed.

With the recent advances in radiodiagnosis like PET scan, HIFU, interventional radiology, it is also expected from young radiologist that they should take up the subspecialty of radiology but at the same time taking precautions not to develop tubular vision.

Educational Conferences:

It is necessary for every one of us to be updated about the widening horizons of radiology. Every coming day has new challenges for all of us. There is a continuous organization of CMEs of different parts of countries with wide participation. All the state chapters and subchapters are doing their best in updating consultants and students as well. However more focused, well-structured CMEs with precision are necessary to make them worthy of matching to the international standards.

It will be our request to the MCI to sanction accreditation for national conferences and other CME programs with stipulated credit hours.

As the world is now a global village with effective communication system, the international liaison is easy, and exchange of knowledge and ideas a realistic possibility, today.

Our academic wing, Indian College of Radiology has been doing excellent work under Dr. Bharat Parekh and Dr. Deepak Patkar. I wish all the academic programs and CMEs should be handled by the college and more and more people should participate and become member of ICRI.

There is a regular funding program from University Grants Commission for sponsoring the teachers for reading their papers in the standard national conferences. MCI also funds the teachers to read their research papers in the international conferences as well as for organizing the CME programs. IRIA is also coming forward in similar way to promote participation in international conferences by our members.

In the past, we had been able to host international conferences and also participate in the overseas conferences. We have good coordination with few developed countries for provision of short-term fellowships at their ends for the young radiologist from our country. I sincerely request representatives, presidents, secretaries of the radiology associations of different countries to help progress of radiology in India, by offering more numbers of fellowships to our young radiologists. Your gesture will go in a long way in raising the global standards.

We experienced the taste of the lavish and unforgettable hospitality and the great show put up by the organizers of 63rd Annual Congress of IRIA. My heartiest thanks to the chairman, Dr. Harshad Shah, who put up untiring and inspiring efforts. I appreciate the efforts of Dr. Dinesh Patel, Dr. Y.T. Patel, Dr. Hemant Patel, and all the commanders of organizing committee for their time, energy, money, and acting in tandem for the cause of our organization.

I express my gratitude to the captains of the trade for giving support and cooperation towards the progress of our association.

This year IRIA is hosting the SAARC conference at Nagpur on 7th and 8th of August, 2010. Friends, I extend warm invitation to all for your valuable contribution and participation.

I am grateful to everyone, to reach me to this coveted post. I am not in position to single out anyone, as there are many silent workers extending the helping hands at all the times. Friends, I bow down with utmost humility to thank you. I will strive hard to have a deserving place in your heart for your love and affection.

Please continue to support me in the areas in which you have a better hold. Every one of us has got a better potential, means, and objective as well. However, these are needed to be exploited for the cause of IRIA also. Please do that and participate. Our unequivocal flow of thought and multidirectional approach will make IRIA strong.

I am obliged by my family members for their perfect sense of understanding and their support which helped me to stand before you. My wife, Dr. Bharti, and children, Abhijeet and Abhishek, deserve special appreciation from me. I am fortunate to be lovingly blessed by my father, Dr. Badridasji Taori, and dear mother, late Kamaladevi Taori, on all the occasions in my life.

I assure you to work with positive mindset for the cause of radiology in general and IRIA in particular.

Once again, I extend best wishes to you and your family for the bright and healthy 2010. Thank you very much ladies and gentlemen.

Long Live IRIA

Jai Hind