Vijayawada, January 20, 2026: Dr. Bobby Mukkamala, President of the American Medical Association (AMA) and the first person of Indian heritage in the role, emphasized that governments worldwide should invest more in preventing diseases than in treating them.
In a telephonic interview, he noted that prevention saves lives, proves more economical, and boosts national productivity by keeping populations healthier.
Mukkamala, whose parents hail from Krishna district his father from Buddhavaram and mother from Thotlavalluru, visited Vijayawada recently during his India tour.
He pointed to Andhra Pradesh's groundwater issues, citing high levels of nitrate, iron, fluoride, lead, and other metals as per the Central Ground Water Board's 2025 report.
He warned that such contamination often shows no immediate symptoms but can harm children's learning abilities over time, urging immediate action. He advocated for stronger health infrastructure, more physicians, awareness campaigns, and ongoing public conversations to prevent conditions like cancer, diabetes, and stroke.
