• White coat is not just attire, it symbolizes patients’ trust, hope and dedication: Chief Secretary
  • Chief Secretary’s heartfelt dialogue with fresh entrants: ‘There is no shortcut to success’
  • Chief Secretary says young doctors’ role is crucial in the ‘Developed Rajasthan’ vision by 2047

Jaipur, 28 October. A dignified ‘White Coat and Cadaveric Oath Ceremony’ for the MBBS batch 2026 was held on Wednesday at Rajasthan University of Health Sciences (RUHS). Addressing the event as chief guest, Chief Secretary Shri V. Srinivas said that among all professions, medicine is the most unique and supreme, demanding the highest level of commitment, boundless passion for service and dedication.

In the white coat, patients see a hope for life

Shri V. Srinivas congratulated the students, saying the white coat is not merely a garment. For the thousands of patients who come to the hospital, this coat represents the final hope of saving life, expertise and relief from suffering. The white colour stands for purity of intent, clinical accuracy and complete transparency. He added that once the coat is donned, a doctor sets aside personal biases and problems and makes patient welfare the top priority. He praised the dedication of senior and junior resident doctors, noting that they often serve continuously for 48 to 72 hours without returning home, reflecting their unique passion for the profession.

Human compassion remains paramount even in the digital age

Chief Secretary invoked the Charak oath, stating that Indian medical tradition has always emphasized empathy and selfless service. He said today’s era of AI, smart classrooms and fully digital government hospitals should use technology to smooth the patient’s journey, not replace the patient at the centre of care. He urged students to maintain harmonious relations with teachers, spend time in the library and coordinate closely with nursing and paramedical staff. He stressed that achieving the ‘Developed Rajasthan’ and ‘Health for All’ goals by 2047 is a huge responsibility resting on these young shoulders.

Heartfelt dialogue with students: ‘There is no shortcut to success’

During the ceremony, Chief Secretary answered students’ questions in a warm dialogue. He said success has no shortcuts; continual pursuit of excellence and 15‑20 hours of hard work daily make a doctor great. To stay stress‑free, he advised incorporating daily yoga, mindfulness, gym, sports, as well as creative activities like writing and fine arts into their routine.

In response to a query on rural health services, Shri V. Srinivas explained that the Prime Minister’s Ayushman Bharat scheme and state initiatives have brought unprecedented changes to the rural health infrastructure. Availability of ANMs at primary health centres and Ayushman Arogya Mandirs, 100 % immunisation and assured antenatal care are being ensured. He said community health centres now have 100 beds, district hospitals 500 beds and medical colleges over 2,000 beds, making service delivery to villages a transformative experience.

He answered another question by recommending that students read publications such as ‘The Lancet’ and those of the National Academy of Medical Sciences, actively participate in seminars and workshops, and draw inspiration from the biography of eminent physician Dr B. Ramamurti.

Hard‑won success; now is the time to give back to society

Medical Education Department Principal Secretary Mrs Gayatri Rathore congratulated the fresh entrants and their parents, saying that clearing tough exams like NEET (UG) through years of hard work and patience has brought them to the state’s premier institutions. She urged students to always remember their parents’ sacrifices and to stand by them while shouldering future responsibilities.

She said that in this era of digital and online education, when treating a living person there is no room for multiple‑choice shortcuts; deep study is essential. She highlighted that under the Chief Minister’s Ayushman Arogya (MA) scheme the state provides free treatment up to ₹25 lakh, free medicines and free investigations. She called on students to utilise world‑class facilities in government medical colleges, become skilled doctors and, with a ‘give back to society’ spirit, provide the best possible care to those at the far end of the health chain.

The ceremony was attended in large numbers by RUHS Vice‑Chancellor Dr Manish Grover, senior doctors, faculty members, senior residents, fresh students and their parents.

Nitin / Otaram