New Delhi: For AMTZ fame Dr Jitendra Sharma, famously known as MedTech Man of India, it was a veritable ‘examinee is better than examiner’ moment when Dr V K Paul, Niti Aayog member and Architect of Ayushman Bharat- PM JAY addressed him as ‘Friend, Philosopher and Guide’ in the presence of quite a few healthcare leaders in their own rights at ASSOCHAM’s Conference named Diagnostics.
As a true leader would invariably do, Dr Paul stated this without mincing words which must have taken aback many present there. Dr Sharma is presently the founder CEO of AMTZ ( Andhra Pradesh MedTech Zone}, the biggest medical device manufacturing cluster of the world.
For the unversed, an examiner in Presidency college in Calcutta was so mighty impressed by what Rajendra Prasad, first president of India, wrote that the erudite checker wrote on his answer sheet this iconic line ‘examinee is better than examiner’ It has, in fact, become part of a folklore. In a way, Dr Paul did Rajendra Prasad on Dr Sharma, though Dr Sharma’s inspiration is Dr APJ Abdul Kalam, another iconic president of India. Dr Sharma has made Dr APJ Abdul Kalam the presiding deity of AMTZ.
The Conference in fact diagnosed two true leaders, one Dr Paul and another Dr Jitendra Sharma. Dr Sharma, speaking before him reminisced about his days under Dr Paul’s unforgiving mentorship and pleaded literally for at least ‘pass marks’ but, what Dr Sharma got, he must not have bargained for. Dr Sharma got much more than even high distinction. Dr Sharma had described Dr Paul as Administrator Par Excellence and his teacher-mentor. Dr Sharma dubbed him a hard task master and no nonsense administrator and even sounded complaining that Dr Paul made him work very hard and made his life as difficult as possible.
Later on, Dr Sharma shrugged it off as just affection like a doting father would shower on his son. But coming as it did from Dr Paul, an undisputed leader of Indian Healthcare for the last 7 years and counting; it is a far reaching verdict and cannot be treated lightly. Dr Paul in fact anointed him for future healthcare of India. Of course, it was large heartedness of Dr Paul for which he is known in his fraternity and among health writers but such statement from him cannot be dubbed as off the cuff.
It was not for nothing that Dr Paul addressed him as he did; Dr Sharma is a highly accomplished versatile genius. He is also a chosen one and shines wherever he stands. Starting from his stint in Union Health Ministry to AMTZ, he has shown rare sharpness and spark in every assignment he was given. In the conference too his speech made a profound impact on the audience. It was superb so to say. In his leadership, India is now on the cusp of becoming global hub of all manners of world class medical devices from mask to MRI. As medical technology is increasingly becoming indispensable for today’s healthcare, Dr Sharma is a ubiquitous presence in almost all medical events these days. Everyone wants a piece of him.
Dr Paul calling him his friend, philosopher and guide is certainly a badge of honor on Dr Sharma because there is no second opinion about Dr V K Paul being supreme leader of India’s healthcare today. He is a ‘chosen one’ by none other than the supreme political leader of the day Dr Narendra Modi for the fulfillment of his agenda of Swastha Bharat. As member of Niti Ayog from 2017 where he heads Health, Nutrition and education verticals, Dr Paul has done excellently well and completely changed the narrative of healthcare in favor of masses. He has been the main Architect of Ayushman Bharat- PM JAY , Ayushman Arogya Mandir Scheme and Poshan Abhiyan.
