Rajasthan Chief Secretary V. Srinivas tells medical students that the white coat symbolises patients’ trust, hope and dedication
Jaipur, October 2026: The Rajasthan University of Health Sciences (RUHS) on Wednesday organised a White Coat and Cadaveric Oath Ceremony for newly admitted students of the MBBS Batch of 2026.
Addressing the ceremony as the chief guest, Rajasthan Chief Secretary V. Srinivas said the medical profession was among the most unique and noble professions, demanding an exceptional level of commitment, an immense passion for service and unwavering dedication.
White coat symbolises hope for patients
Congratulating the students, Srinivas said the white coat was much more than an item of clothing. For thousands of patients visiting hospitals, it represents their last hope of survival, medical expertise and relief from suffering.
He said the colour white symbolised purity of intention, clinical precision and complete transparency. Once doctors put on the white coat, they must set aside personal prejudices and problems and make the welfare of patients their highest priority.
Appreciating the dedication of senior and junior resident doctors, he noted that medical professionals often work in hospitals continuously for 48 to 72 hours without returning home, demonstrating their extraordinary commitment to the profession.
Human compassion remains paramount in the digital age
Referring to the Charaka Oath, the Chief Secretary said Indian medical traditions had always emphasised compassion and selfless service.
He observed that the present era was characterised by artificial intelligence, smart classrooms and fully digital government hospitals. However, technology should be used to make patients’ hospital journeys easier and more efficient.
“The patient must always remain at the centre of a doctor’s professional journey, and this human aspect should never be lost,” he said.
Srinivas advised students to maintain cordial relationships with their teachers, spend adequate time in libraries and work in close coordination with nursing and paramedical staff.
He said young doctors would shoulder significant responsibility in achieving the goals of ‘Viksit Rajasthan’ and ‘Health for All’ by 2047.
‘There is no shortcut to success’
During an interactive session, the Chief Secretary responded to students’ questions and encouraged them to pursue excellence through discipline and perseverance.
He said there was no shortcut to success and that a continuous pursuit of excellence, combined with 15 to 20 hours of hard work every day, could help transform a medical student into an outstanding doctor.
To manage stress, he advised students to incorporate yoga, mindfulness, gym workouts and sports into their daily routines. He also encouraged them to pursue creative activities such as writing and fine arts.
Responding to a question on rural healthcare, Srinivas said the Prime Minister’s Ayushman Bharat scheme and initiatives of the state government had brought significant changes to rural health infrastructure.
He said the availability of Auxiliary Nurse Midwives (ANMs) at Primary Health Centres and Ayushman Arogya Mandirs, along with universal immunisation and antenatal care, was helping strengthen healthcare delivery in rural areas.
He added that Community Health Centres were expanding to 100 beds, district hospitals to 500 beds, and medical colleges to more than 2,000 beds. Serving in rural areas, he said, would offer young doctors an opportunity to contribute to transformative improvements in healthcare.
On academic excellence and medical research, the Chief Secretary advised students to read The Lancet and publications of the National Academy of Medical Sciences, actively participate in seminars and workshops, and draw inspiration from the life of renowned physician Dr B. Ramamurthi.
‘Time to give back to society’
Principal Secretary of the Medical Education Department Gayatri Rathore congratulated the newly admitted students and their parents, noting that clearing the highly competitive NEET-UG examination required years of hard work and patience.
She urged students to remember their parents’ sacrifices and stand by them while fulfilling their responsibilities in the future.
Rathore said that although digital and online education had expanded access to learning, treating a living person left no room for multiple-choice decisions. It required in-depth knowledge, rigorous study and sound clinical judgement.
She highlighted the state government’s welfare initiatives under the Mukhyamantri Ayushman Arogya (MA) Yojana, which provides free treatment of up to ₹25 lakh, along with free medicines and diagnostic tests.
She encouraged students to make the best use of world-class facilities available at government medical colleges, become skilled doctors and embrace the spirit of giving back to society by ensuring quality healthcare reaches even the most underserved people.
RUHS Principal Dr Manish Grover, senior doctors, faculty members, senior resident doctors, newly admitted students and their parents attended the ceremony in large numbers.
