Aizawl, November 2026: Health Minister Pi Lalrinpuii attended the inaugural session of the 8th Annual Conference of the North-East Chapter of the Association of Surgeons of India (NECASICON), held jointly with the 6th Annual Conference of the Association of Surgeons of Mizoram (ASM), as the chief guest at Aijal Club on Thursday evening.
Addressing the gathering, the Minister said that an exceptional surgeon never loses sight of the human being behind the illness.
She said surgeons are not merely life-savers but also important contributors to the advancement of medicine. To become a successful surgeon, one must be a good planner, as it is often necessary to understand a patient's medical history and discuss the course of continued treatment with other healthcare professionals.
Although surgeons perform operations with their hands, she said, it is their knowledge, experience, determination and humanity that truly bring healing to patients.
Referring to the many advances in surgical practice made possible by modern technology, the Minister urged surgeons to remember that the patients under their care must always remain at the centre of their work.
She observed that surgeons play a vital role in education, clinical care and the advancement of science. Surgery requires a high level of skill and specialised expertise, which takes many years of dedicated training to acquire. However, she added that the medical profession must continue to evolve with changing times and technological advancements to remain at the forefront of progress and make surgery an attractive career option for the younger generation.
The Minister said that certain changes were needed in clinical practice, education and research to preserve and further enhance the reputation and standing of the surgical profession. Encouraging the participants to continue learning and upgrading their skills, she quoted:
"A good surgeon knows how to operate; a great surgeon knows when to operate; but an exceptional surgeon never forgets the human being behind the illness."
She urged the gathering to remain mindful of the purpose of their profession and the responsibility they carry towards patients.
At the inaugural programme, Dr ST Lalruatfela welcomed the participants. Dr Lalrinsiama, Secretary of NECASI and ASM, presented a brief report. A short profile of Dr R. Tlangdunga was also presented.
Prof. Dr Vikram Kate, Editor-in-Chief of the Indian Journal of Surgery, delivered a presentation on the topic "Integration of Translational and Clinical Research".
Prof. Dr C. Vanlalhlua, Assistant Secretary of ASM, proposed the vote of thanks and formally concluded the inaugural session.
The conference will continue tomorrow, featuring academic sessions and discussions on various topics.
