Yashwant Sinha inaugurates the health mela in Hazaribagh on Monday. (Vishvendu Jaipuriar)

Hazaribagh, Dec. 26: Senior BJP leader Yashwant Sinha on Monday called upon the people to strictly follow doctors’ advice in case of any ailment.

“Anything unusual in the body needs immediate attention from doctors. Or else, negligence can cost life,” the Hazaribagh MP said while addressing a gathering after inaugurating the three-day Mega Swasthya Mela on the premises of Hazaribagh sadar hospital in the morning.

Citing his own example, Sinha said he was alive today because of timely medical aid. “Some four years ago, I rushed to a doctor with some problem and was diagnosed with cancer. Timely detection resulted in permanently cure of this killer disease,” Sinha said.

The health mela, organised by the Indian Medical Association (IMA), Hazaribagh chapter, will start from Tuesday, but as the MP has to attend Parliament, the inauguration was brought forward. The mela will be on till December 29 and people can expect a host of services — from diagnosis to free pathological tests, X-ray and ECG — for free.

“Come to this mela and seek advice of doctors, who will suggest the exact treatment. But you don’t compel doctors to do what you want. Remember that they are doctors and you are patients,” he advised.

The MP further said recently, he received a letter from Union health minister Ghulam Nabi Azad, who allotted Rs 5 crore to Hazaribagh for special training of auxiliary nursing midwives and Rs 10 crore for general nursing and midwifery training.

Secretary of IMA, Hazaribagh chapter, Krishna Kumar said Sinha trusted them to host this mela. “He sanctioned Rs 8 lakh for the event, which is being organised with cooperation from several doctors.”