B. Palaniappan

Dr. Bhuvaraghan Palaniappan (born November 5, 1930) is an Indian gynecologist. In recognition of his contributions to medicine, Dr. B. Palaniappan received the Padma Shri award from the President of India, Dr. Abdul Kalam, on March 29, 2006.

Academia

Dr. B. Palaniappan was born on November 5, 1930 at Chidambaram in Tamil Nadu to Shri. Bhuvaraghan and Smt. Gnanambal. He studied at Stanley Medical College, Chennai and did his post graduate work at the Institute of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Chennai.

Dr. B. Palaniappan has been involved in many research projects in both clinical and academic spheres. He was instrumental in banning some of the harmful drugs used in pregnancy tests. His work in the field of fertility control was published in many national and international journals and textbooks. He has written many books for medical students, post graduates and medical health workers. He was an ESCAP fellow for training in culdoscopy and laparoscopy at Singapore.

His untiring efforts resulted in establishing a Centre of Excellence for Microsurgery and Recanalisation at the Kilpauk Medical College, Chennai with grants from UNFPA, the Indian government and Government of Tamil Nadu. This center is a training ground for doctors from the entire southern region. This was of immense benefit to the parents who have undergone surgical sterilization but later regretted and wanted reversal of the procedures. He was the Director of ICMR at the College and was involved in many clinical research works. He undertook many projects related to human reproduction.

Dr. B. Palaniappan has presented and published over 100 research papers in many national and international journals and conferences. As the President of Federation of Obstetricians and Gynecologists of India, he traveled to the remote corners of India to teach about safe motherhood and training many young gynecologists in techniques in the specialty.

Achievements and contributions

Dr. B. Palaniappan has been a Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology in various medical colleges in Tamil Nadu for more than 25 years. He dedicated his professional life to pregnant women, mothers and suffering women. He was an undergraduate and postgraduate examiner for more than 20 years. He was also an examiner and Inspector for the National Board of Examinations.

The National Academy of Medical sciences (India) honored him by electing him as its Fellow and awarded FAMS, an honour which very few obstetricians and gynecologists from this part of the country are conferred with. In recognition of his academic excellence, the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow also conferred a Fellowship on him. He received the Dr. B.C. Roy National Award (1995) in recognition of his outstanding services in the field of sociomedical relief and in establishment of medical organisations in India.

As president of the Federation of Obstetrics and Gynecological Societies of India (FOGSI), he travelled far and wide of this country propagating the message of safe motherhood, reproduction and child health and brought to the forefront, easily available economic methods for reducing maternal and new born mortality and morbidity. He was also the President of National Association for Voluntary Sterilization and Family Welfare of India (NAVSFWI) with a network of over 3000 members throughout India. He disseminated the message of reproductive rights, empowerment of women and the need for reducing neonatal morbidity and mortality before this became widespread.

Contribution to reproductive and child health

Palaniappan is a renowned expert in the field of reproductive and child health. Palaniappan was one of the first people to take up culdoscopy and laparoscopic sterilization. He has performed thousands of sterilization procedures. His contribution to voluntary sterilization and family planning earned him a well-deserved recognition not only in India but also in countries like Singapore, Japan, Bangkok, Germany and elsewhere

He has trained more than 200 doctors in the technique of lapaoscopic sterilization. Due to his untiring efforts this minimally invasive surgical sterilization method became popular and available to throughout the country. He wrote a book on Laparoscopic Sterilization in the early 80s when the technique itself had just come to India.

Training of paramedical personnel

His text book for nurses and midwives on care of pregnant mothers, prevention of pregnancy related complications, safe child birth, and care of the new born is still being acclaimed as one of the best publications of its kind.

Research assignments

As the director of Human reproduction research center, ICMR at Chennai, he was involved with fertility control, maternal and child health, oral contraceptives, standardization of rings and bands for laparoscopic sterilization, implants for contraception and long acting injectable contraceptives.

Realising the agony of men and women who lose their children after being sterilized, Palaniappan started the Microsurgical Recanalisation Center for both men and women at Kilpauk Medical College, Chennai. This center became a Center of Excellence in Microsurgery for Recanalisation and also a training center for doctors and paramedical personnel. At a time when these techniques were available only to the affluent and only in a few facilities, Prof. Palaniappan brought it within the reach of poorer people, helping the family welfare programme in no small measure.

Commitment to social causes

In the 1980s, a combination of hormonal preparations were used a pregnancy test. This resulted in babies being born with birth defects including absence of limbs.

Prof. Palaniappan worked to stop this practice of hormonal preparations being used as a pregnancy test. It resulted in many of the Multi National Companies withdrawing these drugs. The government of India also banned these combinations.

At the age of 75 he continues as a Professor Emiritus Dr. M.G.R. Medical University, offering his consultancy to many National Programmes on safe motherhood, women empowerment, child health, occupational hazards and other subjects.

ee also

*List of Tamils conferred Padma Shri