Significance
National Doctors' Day is a day
celebrated to recognize the contributions of physicians to individual lives and
communities. The date may vary from nation to nation depending on the event of
commemoration used to mark the day.
Observance
In some nations the day is marked as a holiday. Although supposed to be celebrated by patients in and benefactors of the healthcare industry, it is usually celebrated by health care organizations. Staff may organize a lunch for doctors to present the physicians with tokens of recognition. Historically, a card or red carnation may be sent to physicians and their spouses, along with a flower being placed on the graves of deceased physicians.
History
The very first observance of
National Doctor's Day was in March 1933 in Georgia. Eudora Brown Almond, the
wife of Dr. Charles B. Almond, decided to set aside a day to honour physicians.
On the very first observance, greeting cards were mailed and flowers were
offered on the graves of deceased doctors.
In the year 1958, a Resolution Commemorating Doctors' Day was adopted in the US House of Representatives. Legislation followed to establish the national Doctor's Day. After approval by the United States Senate and the House of Representatives, President George Bush designated March 30th as "National Doctor's Day."
This day since then honours all
efforts and hard work put in by doctors to save lives. The profession of a
doctor is a noble one as they constantly strive to make people feel better, be
it via administering medicines or performing complex surgeries.
When is National Doctors Day celebrated in India?
In India the National Doctors' Day is celebrated on July 1 all across India to honour the legendary physician and the second Chief Minister of West Bengal, Dr. Bidhan Chandra Roy.