This month, we feature Dr. J.R.Sankaran MD, FRCP (Edinburgh) DSC FICP who has many laurels to his credit.

He is the recipient of B.C.Roy National Award for ‘Eminent Medical Teachers’ in the year 1994. He received the ‘Lifetime Achievement’ Award for his work on AIDS, conferred during the International Conference on AIDS, held in Chennai in 2001.

He was deputed twice as a British Council delegate to UK, once for the “Gastro Intestinal Work” and the other time for work on “History of Medicine”. He is also the Retired professor of Madras Medical College. He served as Physician in Government General Hospital, Chennai upto 1990.

He also headed the Liver clinic and HIV clinic at Cherur hospital. He is the first WHO visiting delegate, representing India to undergo training on AIDS in 1989. His area of specialisation, apart from treating HIV+ patients are Internal medicine, Cardiology, Gastroenterology, Hematol ogy infections and Metabolic disorders.

We request you to throw light on the HIV patient’s social status as you are treating many such patients?

Unlike a decade ago, the HIV+ patients are not stigmatized and secluded today. They enjoy a good social status, with the quality of life and lifespan almost comparable to any normal uninfected person.

What would you attribute the reason for the change in mind set?

I would give all credit to the various awareness Programme conducted by the Government, Media and NGO’s, highlighting that it is no longer a dreaded disease and infection can be avoided with proper precautions.

What is the current advancement in treatment for HIV+ patients?

A HIV+ patient can lead normal life. Infact, I would is it is manageable like the diabetes with drugs.

What would be the cost of the drugs?

It would be 8 - 10 thousand for a month’s supply of drugs. The cost is being brought down. A few years ago, the same drugs were sold at 50 - 60 thousand.

What about transmission of this HIV from the mother to the baby? Has the number changed?

The risk groups are screened during the Ante natal period and if found positive with the administration of ‘ART’ drugs, the rate of transmission from mother to the baby has been considerably reduced.

The HIV orphans are taken care and supported by many Government as well as Non-Government Institutes dedicated to this cause.

As a person from medical fraternity who has been in the field for more than 4 decades, what would you attribute the qualities of an aspiring doctors?

Youngsters need to be compassionate to take up the field of medicine and the will to miss out certain temporary pleasures to gain long term satisfaction.

The doctors of yesteryears were given the status of the God. But today they are viewed as blood sucking tyrants. Why is this change in scenario?

If a person came to me complaining of head ache, twenty years ago, the maximum I could ask for is an x-ray, which would amount Rs.200/- in today’s value and I had to wait for the other symptoms to manifest for the right course of treatment, but if my patient has a headache for more than a week, despite medication, he would be advised a MRI scan and he would be spending Rs.10,000/-, just on the investigation, which is required to plan the right course of treatment. The doctors get blamed for the escalation in cost due to Technological Advancement.

With a smile, doctor concludes saying, “Doctors should learn to accept the brick bats and the bouquets with equanimity”.

I think all of us should take his advice. Don’t you agree!!!!???