NewKerala.com, India
Oct 8 2005

Shekhawat becomes first Indian to receive Armenian university
doctorate

Yeravan (Armenia), Oct.7 : Vice President Bhairon Singh Shekhawat was
today honoured with an honorary degree of Doctor of Medicine by the
Yerewan State Medical University at Yerevan, the capital of Armenia.

Shekhawat is the first Indian to receive this Armenian honour. The
degree along with a gold medallion was presented to the Indian Vice
President at a special convocation that coincided with Diamond
Jubilee of the university.

Speaking on the occasion, Shekhawat underlined that todays
governance by the State is basically meant to secure human
development and augment happiness. Improving quality of education and
providing effective healthcare are the two primary means to achieve
these objectives. It is, therefore, important that highest quality
and standards are maintained in our medical education system so that
it keeps pace with the changing requirements and fast technological
developments.

Underlining the need for providing affordable healthcare to the
common people at large, including the poor and the deprived sections
of the society, Shekhawat said that the challenge to build an
affordable public health system is really very formidable and demands
an innovative approach.

In every country one finds the rich and vast traditional wisdom of
medicine which has so well served the poor, Shekhawat said and added
that the key to an affordable and reliable healthcare system lies in
the integrated system of medicine.

He hoped that medical universities would focus on these issues which
vitally impact public healthcare and added that these issues are also
receiving serious consideration in Indian and integrated courses in
medical education are being envisaged.

The Vice President also said that India has made significant progress
since independence which is largely due to its rich reservoir of
highly qualified technical and professional manpower today. The
medical and health sector, therefore, offers new opportunities for
cooperation between India and Armenia, he added.

Earlier, Shekhawat held talks with the Prime Minister of Armenia,
Andranik Margarian. Later a lunch in honour of Shekhawat was hosted
by Robert Kocharian, President of Armenia.

Shekhawat also visited the Holy Echmiadzin Church and had a meeting
with HH Karegin II, Catholicos of All Armedians.