Prime Minister Narendra Modi took the opportunity on National Doctors' Day to praise the work done by doctors, calling them exemplars of the highest degree of courage, selflessness and resilience.
"On Doctors' Day, I express my deepest gratitude to the entire doctor community. Even during the most unprecedentedly busy times, doctors have exemplified the highest degree of courage, selflessness and resilience. Their dedication goes beyond healing; it gives our society hope and strength," the Prime Minister tweeted.
Kerala State Chief Vijayan Pinarayi also congratulated the doctors and called them pillars of our society.
Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya and many other prominent ministers and opposition leaders lauded doctors' role in society.
Netizens also took to the microblogging site and expressed their gratitude to doctors for their tireless efforts, compassion, and dedication to saving lives and promoting wellbeing.
Since 1991, National Doctors' Day has been held on 1 July to commemorate the birthday in 1882 of Dr Bidhan Chandra Roy (who coincidentally died on his 80th birthday on 1 July 1962). The doctor was known for his work not only as a physician but also as a freedom fighter during India's independence struggle. Later, he became state chief of West Bengal.
Dr Roy was awarded the Bharat Ratna, the country's highest civilian award, for his contributions to the medical field.