Chance of a lifetime, still unrecognised
- The Statesman
- 26 Dec 2013
kalyani doctor selected for master’s study in netherlands
Biswabrata Goswami
biswabratagoswami@gmail.com
Krishnagar, 25 December
At a time when vitality and growing old for the elderly are being seen as a new way of integral treatment strategy across the world, including India, a young doctor of Gandhi Memorial Hospital in Kalyani, who has received several international awards, has been selected to study the Masters programme on this field from Leiden University, the oldest university of the Netherlands in greater Europe and the twin university of Oxford.
Dr Ashok Kumar Biswas, a Junior Resident (Cardiology & Chest Medicine) of Gandhi Memorial Hospital, who graduated from Midnapore Medical College and Hospital, was recently selected as the first Indian student to study the Masters programme on vitality and ageing from Leiden University.But, neither the state government nor the Central government has recommended his name yet.
Masters programme in vitality and ageing is a very unique course offered by Leiden University and Leiden Academy only for 20 students around the globe each year. They usually select the creme-de-la-creme from a country and this is the first time that any Indian student got such an offer.
Dr Biswas had received the international undergraduate research best prize in 2009 but that was also not recognised by the governments or the health university. “Every country takes honour in this course. Usually, the selected student gets money from the government for the course. Leiden university expects respective governments to come forward and provide the scholarship. The Centre may help me if the same is forwarded by the Chief Minister,” Dr Biswas said.
While responding to questions, Dr Biswas said care for the elderly differs from that of children and adults, as it often involves the treatment of multiple, concurrent diseases. Therefore, the elderly require a different, integral treatment strategy. This essential new way of thinking and operating is not sufficiently incorporated in current academic and clinical practice yet. To address this specific gaps, Leiden University and Leyden Academy developed the Vitality and Ageing master programme, he said.
“We are now experiencing an unprecedented senior population growth, which means that older people and related ageing issues are more prominent than ever. So, the ageing process can be (partially) avoided and extended if sufficient energy is invested into maintenance and repair. We can anticipate ongoing improvements in the length and quality of our lives and expect a future with more years lived in good health.”
But despite best efforts, life often ends with a period of poor health and disabilities. Care for the elderly differs from that of children and adults, as it often involves the treatment of multiple, concurrent diseases (multi-morbidity) which leads to under-and over-treatment. Above all, not only purely biomedical aspects need to be considered but other influencing factors such as the impact of healthcare structures and the social position of the elderly need to be taken into account.
Biswabrata Goswami
biswabratagoswami@gmail.com
Krishnagar, 25 December
At a time when vitality and growing old for the elderly are being seen as a new way of integral treatment strategy across the world, including India, a young doctor of Gandhi Memorial Hospital in Kalyani, who has received several international awards, has been selected to study the Masters programme on this field from Leiden University, the oldest university of the Netherlands in greater Europe and the twin university of Oxford.
Dr Ashok Kumar Biswas, a Junior Resident (Cardiology & Chest Medicine) of Gandhi Memorial Hospital, who graduated from Midnapore Medical College and Hospital, was recently selected as the first Indian student to study the Masters programme on vitality and ageing from Leiden University.But, neither the state government nor the Central government has recommended his name yet.
Masters programme in vitality and ageing is a very unique course offered by Leiden University and Leiden Academy only for 20 students around the globe each year. They usually select the creme-de-la-creme from a country and this is the first time that any Indian student got such an offer.
Dr Biswas had received the international undergraduate research best prize in 2009 but that was also not recognised by the governments or the health university. “Every country takes honour in this course. Usually, the selected student gets money from the government for the course. Leiden university expects respective governments to come forward and provide the scholarship. The Centre may help me if the same is forwarded by the Chief Minister,” Dr Biswas said.
While responding to questions, Dr Biswas said care for the elderly differs from that of children and adults, as it often involves the treatment of multiple, concurrent diseases. Therefore, the elderly require a different, integral treatment strategy. This essential new way of thinking and operating is not sufficiently incorporated in current academic and clinical practice yet. To address this specific gaps, Leiden University and Leyden Academy developed the Vitality and Ageing master programme, he said.
“We are now experiencing an unprecedented senior population growth, which means that older people and related ageing issues are more prominent than ever. So, the ageing process can be (partially) avoided and extended if sufficient energy is invested into maintenance and repair. We can anticipate ongoing improvements in the length and quality of our lives and expect a future with more years lived in good health.”
But despite best efforts, life often ends with a period of poor health and disabilities. Care for the elderly differs from that of children and adults, as it often involves the treatment of multiple, concurrent diseases (multi-morbidity) which leads to under-and over-treatment. Above all, not only purely biomedical aspects need to be considered but other influencing factors such as the impact of healthcare structures and the social position of the elderly need to be taken into account.
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