Surgical care should go beyond financial, social and regional barriers, said Minister K Babu at the inauguration of the 71st annual conference of the Association of Surgeons of India (ASI). The Conference, which is being held in Kerala after 40 years, saw over 5,500 surgeons participate. Highlighting the theme of this year's conference, 'Surgery Sans Frontier', the minister said inclusivity of surgical care was important and surgeons should take care that their services reach the deprived too.

Presenting the annual report, ASI secretary R K Karwasra said that there was a lacuna in interest among the younger generation when it comes to surgical care. One of the reasons for this lack of interest might be the surgical education in the country and the restraints it faces owing to various norms and regulations in the field.

The ASI was growing at a rapid pace, adding as many as 800-900 surgeons every year. "The association which started in 1938 with 112 members now has more than 15,000 members. The association has also spread across every state and has branches in many cities," he said.

One of the highlights of the conference this year was the launch of the Indian Journal of Surgery. A total of 5,741 surgeons from different parts of the country have registered at the conference so far. The number is expected to go up in the coming days. Delegates from neighbouring countries including the UK, the US, Europe, Australia, South East Asia and South Africa are also participating.

Orations, guest lectures, symposia, panel discussions, surgical workshops and paper presentations are held simultaneously at nine different venues. Exhibition on advanced diagnostic equipment and innovations in the field of surgical procedures is also organised.