Presently IMA has 23 State Branches and 9
Territorial branches and 1700 local branches.
History of B.M.A. &
I.M.A .Vijayawada
Bezwada Medical Association was
established in the year 1928, almost simultaneously with National I.M.A.
under the relentless efforts of Dr.Koka Chalapathi Rao with just Seven
members. Dr.C.L. Charles, Railway D.M.O. of those days was the president
and Dr.Velidandla hanumantharao was the first Secretary.
The Association was officially registered
soon with Dr.S.J.Eeppan as President and Dr.Jandhyala Dakshina Murthy as
the first Honarary Secretary of the Registered Organization. All doctors
with institutional training were eligible for admission to the
Association. Initially the meetings used to be conducted in the house of
Hony. Secretary. In 1934, B.M.A. has conducted a Provential Medical
Conference.
Ten years after the establishment of Bezwada
Medical Association, the Indian Medical Assocaiation, Vijayawada Branch
was founded in affiliation to National I.M.A. Col. Shankara Shastri is
instrumental in this process. The then National President of I.M.A., Dr.
Bholanadh ha speronally attended the inauguration ceremony. Dr.Koka
Chalapathi Rao was the first President and Dr. T.V.S.Chalapathi Rao was
the first Honarary Secretary of I.M.. Vijayawada. As per the I.M.A.
constitution, only doctors trained in Modern Medicine are eligible for
admission to I.M.A. Members with degrees like L.I.M., G.C.I.M., etc.
remained as members of B.M.A. and those with degrees in allopathy became
members of I.M.A. However, since the aims and objectives of both
organizations being the same, in a unique way, both I.M.A. and B.M.A. ,
both coexisted in Vijayawada until their unification under one President
at a later date. Dr.Chaganti Suryanarayana Murthy.
I.M.A. Vijayawada is always quite active in
its academic activities. Even before the the beginning of I.M.A. College
of General Practice at National Level, our branch had commenced Annual
Refresher course for General Practitioners.
B.M.A. & I.M.A.Vijayawada had the
privilege of felicitating stalwarts in Medical profession like
Dr.Yallapragada Subbarao, Dr.C.V.Raman,Dr.A.K.N.Sinha, etc, and even
non-medical doyens like Dr.Bhogaraju Pattabhiseetharamaiah.
Members of
B.M.A. & I.M.A.Vijayawada were not only famous for
their contribution in medical profession but also in poletical field.
Dr.Velidandla Hanumantha Rao, Dr.Ghantasala Seetharama Sarma, Dr.Rayaprolu
Seethrama Sastry, etc. were active participants of freedom struggle of
India. After the independance, we had great politicians in
Dr.Atchamamba, Dr.T.V.S.Chalapathi Rao, Dr.Jandhyala Dakshina Murthy,
Dr.Jandghyala Shankar, etc.
Members of our organization were also
involved in the administration of I.M.A., Dr.N.Satyanarayana is the only
member form our organization who had the credit of getting elected to the
post of President of National I.M.A. Dr.Chaganti Suryanarayana Murthy,
Dr.P.S.Giri, Dr.N.L.Sastry, Dr.G.Samaram, Dr.V.Ram Prasad were all served
as Presidents of I.M.A. - A.P. State.
Having completed 75 successful years,
Bezwada Medical Association has celebrated 'Platinum Jubilee' in
2003. With 762 members, ours is the second largest branch of I.M.A. in
Andhra Pradesh. B.M.A. & I.M.A. Vijayawada is
perhaps is only branch level I.M.A. with a WebSite of its own with details
of all the members on-line. New revised Constitution drafted under the
chairmanship of Dr.K.Vengala Rao, was adopted recently. With its regular
Academic and Social activities and tireless contributions from its
dedicated members, B.M.A & I.M.A. Vijayawada, we can proudly say, is
soaring to newer heights in the coming years.
