Dr . C. K. RAMCHANDAR MEMORIAL ORATION

The Association owes a lot to a great legendary namely Dr. C.K. Ramchandar. He took a keen interest in Occupational Health, which was almost non-existence then. Prestigious oration of the association CKR oration was instituted after him. Although Occupational Diseases were known long before. However it was during world war II that the utility of the medical care of men at work came to be appreciated. In India the Society of Study of Industrial Medicine was founded in 1948.

Dr. C.K. Ramchandar, who founded the medical services at the Ceramic-cum-Chemical Fertilizer Plant of E.I.D.Parry Limited Ranipet early in 1948. He organized the madras state branch of the society for the study of Industrial medicine in 1950. He brought together many medical officer, personnel officer, Engineers and Chemists and associated with industry and continued to provide the leadership for the development and growth of Occupational Health in India .He continuously equipped himself in the field of industrial medicine and organized meetings seminars and courses to disseminate this knowledge.

In 1955 he undertook a study tour of Europe and UK visiting institutes if Occupational Health, occupational Health Services in factories and research institutes so as to upgrade knowledge of occuoational health. Between 1955 to 1967, he traveled extensively in Tamilnadu propagating the concept , ideals and methodology of organization of Occupational Health Services and the utility of all these to management’s  and employees. By his humble behavior affable temperament and as a powerful, clear, lucid, convincing speaker in English and tamil he drew large audience at these meetings.

Dr.C.K.Ramchandar was amongst the very few greats who groomed the youngsters to the speciality of Occupational Health. Dr.C.K.Ramchandar had his deep, innate faith in the goodness of employees as individual. He firmly believed that it is the duty and privilege of doctors in industry, to develop this innate individual goodness for the total benefit of organizations.

About 1980 when employees State Insurance Scheme Medical Services came in, many managements Wound Medical arrangements in their factories. But Dr.C.K.Ramchandar harnessed ESIS to advantage in Ranipet and by quality of his work could keep almost all workers on his list to prove employees appreciate quality service even from management doctor. Dr.Ramchandar by his missionary zeal propagated his pet theme, “the objective of Occupational Health services is preventive maintenance of human component of industry”.

Dr.C.K.Ramchandar was a firm believer in the constructive role of the factory Inspectorate in Occupational Health Services. Personally he was held in high esteem by successive Chief Inspectors  of Factories and his offices and this he utilized to get them all involved in the acceptance development and practice of Occupational Health And Safety, in places of employment with the factory doctor providing the leadership.

As one interested in the total welfare of employees, he was one of the pioneers to propogate the concept of Family Planning as integral and important content of Occupational Health Services. This new dimension to Occupational Health Practice put into practice in Ranipet won the approbation of the Employees and Trade Union Leaders.

He was invited by World Health Organization and International Labour Organization to their Seminars and Courses in India. He has a special aptitude to study problems in Indian context and to transfer knowledge and methodology in a lucid manner. He was the Hon General Secretary of the Association in 1953 1954 and the President Of the association in 1957. In 1958 he was elected to the permanent international committee on Occupational Health. Medicine is yet another discipline in the armamentarium of Man Management. This was the theme Of his Ardeshir Dalal Memorial Oration at Bangalore in 1974. He advances valuable data and sound arguments for acceptance of Occupational Health as indispensable management tool.

He was invited by many institutes and University Departments in USSR, Finland, Sweden, Oslo and many centres in UK France, Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Italy, and United Arab Republic. He was been a member and was the chairman of the Expert Committee on Occupational Health of the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR).

Dr. C. K.Ramchandar Memorial Oration