New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday addressed the medical fraternity on the occasion of National Doctors’ Day. He delivered his address at a program organized by the Indian Medical Association (IMA) to honor and commemorate the work of healthcare workers, especially over the past year since the Covid-19 pandemic struck the country. During the address, PM Modi hailed the work of the doctors in saving the lives of people and said, "Our doctors, their knowledge and experience is helping us battle this Covid-19 virus." He also thanked all doctors on behalf of 130 crore citizens of the country.

In the virtual address, PM Modi also highlighted the government's effort towards strengthening the medical infrastructure in the country. "Our government has put maximum thrust on the health care sector, and the budget for it more than doubled to over ₹2 lakh crore this year," PM Modi said. He also announced a credit guarantee scheme of ₹50,000 crores "to strengthen the health infrastructure in such areas, where there is a lack of health facilities."Doctors' Day is observed in the honor of noted doctor and former West Bengal chief minister Bidhan Chandra Roy, whose birth and death anniversaries fall on July 1.