Anbumani Ramadoss

Anbumani Ramadoss(அன்புமணி ராம்தாஸ்) is the youngest Minister in the Cabinet of the Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh. Inducted into the Cabinet at the age of 36, Dr. Anbumani Ramadoss

Born on 9th October, 1968 in Puducherry, Anbumani went to school at Yercaud of Salem district in Tamil Nadu. and studied medicine at Madras Medical College.

He worked for three years in rural areas near Tindivanam in Tamil Nadu.

Ramadoss always felt that urban people had access to big hospitals and a host of choices but the rural people hardly had any such access. He improved the National Rural Health Mission, launched by the Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh in April, 2005.

The National Rural Health Mission focuses specifically on the needs of rural poor, especially women and children. This Mission brings primary health care to the doorsteps of the villagers. The Female Accredited Social Health Activist – ASHA, who is to be positioned in 2.5 lakh villages across the country, will provide for basic healthcare at every home of the village.

Under the National Rural Health Mission his immense contribution has begun to bear fruits. His idea of upgrading the Community Health Centers to functioning hospitals as per the new Indian Public Health standards is a milestone in setting quality health care for the rural poor. His direct intervention to ensure injection safety by introduction of Auto-disable syringes is a path-breaking step in public health system.

Ramadoss’s helped to improve the health of the citizens, especially the rural people. When Tsunami struck the shores of Tamil Nadu and Andamans, Ramadoss helped the relief work and worked with fellow volunteers to ensure relief work, especially medical help all of which was timely extended to the affected.

Pasumai Thaayagam (Green Motherland) is a non-governmental organization working for environmental protection, sustainable development and people’s right to governance. Ramadoss is the prime mover and motivator of this growing NGO movement.

Ramadoss has steered the notifications of rules relating to ban on smoking in public places which invoked lot of public upraisal for everyone's personal freedom . Ban on tobacco advertising in India, ban on sale of tobacco products to minors and a ban on the sale of tobacco products within a radius of 100 yards from educational institutions were all taken positively by the public. A ban will be in effect from 2nd October 2008 in all public places.

He has proposed a ban on showing smoking, cigarette packs or tobacco advertisements in movies and TV programmes. Although a very strong lobby, that is pro-tobacco, doesn’t want this ban implemented. Ramadoss is firm on his stand, because the cinema – the audio visual medium – influences young people to turn smokers and this leads to the more harmful habit forever.

Despite strong opposition from the tobacco industry and the resistance from tobacco growers and trade unions, the Ministry steadfastly advanced the agenda for tobacco control through evidence persuasive advocacy and resolute leadership. At the global level, India has been recognized as a role model for the tobacco control. India is the first country to propose a ban on the depiction of smoking scenes in Films and Tele-serials despite strong opposition from the Film Industry and the Media.

The American Cancer Society selected the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India under the leadership of Anbumani Ramadoss for Luther L. Terry Award in the category of exemplary leadership by a Government Ministry in recognitions of its consistent excellence in anti-tobacco advocacy and the award was given away at a formal ceremony during the World Conference on Tobacco OR Health in Washington DC on 14th July, 2006.

The tobacco control measures taken by the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare under Anbumani Ramadoss have been widely acclaimed at the global level. India is in the forefront in realistically implementing the tobacco control measures through legislation. The efforts put forth by the Ministry in designing and facilitating the enactment and enforcement of the tobacco control legislation are laudable and has set a praiseworthy precedent in promotion of public health for other countries to follow.

The Ministry of Health & Family Welfare have initiated a health insurance scheme to ensure quality sterilization services across the country. The Revised National TB Control Programme has covered the entire population of 111 crore people in 632 districts over the past two years. The TB death rates have been cut 7 fold and global target of 85% of treatment success rate has been achieved. During his tenure, India has achieved the goal of eliminating leprosy. As against the defined norms of elimination goal of prevalence less than 1 case per 10,000 population, India had a prevalence of 0.95/10,000 as on 31st December, 2005.

One of his long-term fights has been against the spread and incidence of Malaria. The incidence of malaria has been brought down to less than 2 million cases per annum and deaths below 1000 per annum during the last two years.

Other Activities

President, Pasumai Thayagam (Green Mother Land) (NGO) , President, Tamil Nadu Amateur Athletic Association, Cuddalore,Tamil Nadu.

Participated in 'World Earth Summit" in Johannesburg, South Africa in Sept., 2002.

Participated in the "World Water Forum" in Kyoto, Japan in Feb., 2003.

Participated in United Nations 'ECOSOC' Conference in New York in Dec., 2003.

Participated in the "15th International AIDS Conference in Bangkok in July, 2004.

Participated in the " 22nd Health Ministers meeting of SEAR WHO, & " 57th Regional Committee Meeting of SEAR WHO, in Maldives in Sept.,2004.

Participated in the “ 9th meeting of the Global Fund to fight AIDS, TB and Malaria” in Tanzania, in Nov. 2004.

Participated in the Pharmaceutical Conference in London (UK), in Feb., 2005.

Participated in the WHO Meeting on "Polio Eradication in South-East Asia Region” in Geneva, Switzerland in Feb. 2005.

Participated in the Common Wealth Health Ministers’ Meeting and 58th World Health Assembly Meeting in Geneva during May 2005. Also visited the International Agency for Research on Cancer, Medical Research Council of UK and Stem Cell Research Centre in London.

Participated in the “ High Level Meeting on HIV/AIDS of UN Assembly” in New York in June 2005. Also visited the National Institute of Health, Washington, Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, and Stem Cell Research Institute University of California.

Visited Seoul, Republic of Korea and Singapore in October, 2005. Visited China in November 2005 for meeting with the President of National Family Planning Commission of China. Also inaugurated the 3rd China Family Planning and Reproductive Health New Technologies and Products Exposition. Attended the 59th World Health Assembly at Geneva in May, 2006. Visited Washington, D.C. (USA) during July 2006 and addressed the 13th World Conference on Tobacco. Also received Luther L.Terry Award from the American Cancer Society under the category of exemplary leadership (Minister of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India) in recognition of consistent excellence in anti-tobacco advocacy and control.

Controversies

He has been in controversies ever since his induction into the council of ministers as health minister. He is well known for his bitter fight with the AIIMS director Prof P Venugopal.

He was also called by a fellow congress Member of Parliament as minister for Venugopal affairs and by another Member of Parliament as "like a bull in a China shop," pointing to the damage he had done to India's premier medical institute's image.

He has also defied court orders in pursuit of his fight with Prof. P Venugopal by axing him against court orders

He was also severely criticised for using AIIMS/AIIMS money for his fight with Prof. P Venugopal He was also ranked poorly among the Central Ministers by a tamil daily against which his party ministers staged demo in Dharmpuri, Tamil Nadu