Chandigarh April 1:
Noted physician and diabetologist Jasbir Singh Bajaj was conferred with the Padma Vibhushan award, the country’s second highest, for his ‘outstanding contribution to the medical sciences and research besides efforts to improve the healthcare delivery system’ by President Pratibha Patil at a function at Rastrapati Bhawan in New Delhi.
Currently vice chairman of the Punjab Planning Board, Dr Bajaj is the first Punjabi and only the ninth person in the country Indian to receive the award for services in the field of medicine and research. He served earlier as member (health) of the Planning Commission with the rank of minister of state in 1991-98.
During his stint there he steered the development of national policy and plans for population stabilization, environmental and public health, nutrition and medical education. He joined the AIIMS faculty in 1966 and in 1979 was appointed professor and head of medicine. Bajaj was appointed honorary physician to the president of India during 1977-1982 and again from 1987 to 1992. He also consultant physician to the prime minister from 1991 to 1996.
He was reportedly the first biomedical scientist ever to have been appointed member of the Planning Commission in 1991, a position he occupied for over seven years under three prime ministers, who were the panel’s titular heads. A recipient of many awards and honours, both national and international, Bajaj is a fellow of the Royal College of Physicians of London as well as of Edinburgh, and of the National Academy of Medical Sciences. He is also a founder fellow of the Indian College of Physicians.
Noted physician and diabetologist Jasbir Singh Bajaj was conferred with the Padma Vibhushan award, the country’s second highest, for his ‘outstanding contribution to the medical sciences and research besides efforts to improve the healthcare delivery system’ by President Pratibha Patil at a function at Rastrapati Bhawan in New Delhi.
Currently vice chairman of the Punjab Planning Board, Dr Bajaj is the first Punjabi and only the ninth person in the country Indian to receive the award for services in the field of medicine and research. He served earlier as member (health) of the Planning Commission with the rank of minister of state in 1991-98.
During his stint there he steered the development of national policy and plans for population stabilization, environmental and public health, nutrition and medical education. He joined the AIIMS faculty in 1966 and in 1979 was appointed professor and head of medicine. Bajaj was appointed honorary physician to the president of India during 1977-1982 and again from 1987 to 1992. He also consultant physician to the prime minister from 1991 to 1996.
He was reportedly the first biomedical scientist ever to have been appointed member of the Planning Commission in 1991, a position he occupied for over seven years under three prime ministers, who were the panel’s titular heads. A recipient of many awards and honours, both national and international, Bajaj is a fellow of the Royal College of Physicians of London as well as of Edinburgh, and of the National Academy of Medical Sciences. He is also a founder fellow of the Indian College of Physicians.
![[JUGRAJ SINGH]](https://www.unp.me/data/avatars/s/123/123038.jpg?1591210006){kind=avatar}
