Healthcare : Is it Right or Luxury ?

By :- Ashish Kumar

Introduction :-

In a developing country like India, everyone is busy in their own work for survival. Most of the people in India are working to have meals twice a day properly. In modern times, we are so busy in their own work that we are not taking health issues seriously. Our lifestyle, food, polltution (which is created by us) , have huge impact on our health, these are affecting the life expectancy rate too. The biggest achievement of the country till now after independence is the increasing life expectancy rate continuously (approx 70years) and decreasing infant mortality rate i.e 30 deaths per 1000 live births. As a young nation, we are working tirelessly as a machinery for the development of the nation. But we have to be fit in these modern days because a healthy nation demands a healthy life.

Current scenario on the ground level :-

I am going to start with a case study of Bihar. You might be able to recall, the outbreak of Acute Encephalitis Syndrome (AES). The very first case of this disease was came to the light in 1995. Since that time, Bihar had faced it several times. Last year (2019) more than 150 children were deceased due to this syndrome. Every time it is said,"it is believed that the reason behind the syndrome might be litchi fruit". But I would like to ask why it is believed from last 25 years, and how much time it will take to get the knowledge of accurate source of origin of such syndrome. There is no one, neither centre nor state who can come and say I will take it to the solution. Here I can't blame the government also because we are the responsible for it. We are sleeping from last 25 years, and watching the same drama on the television and social media. You don't think, there is nothing left behind to be exposed. Every year same state health minister gives same statement and showing of sympathy instead empathy. Only we can take it as a challenge and get short it out otherwise we only have to pay the price whatever it takes whether in terms of life or in terms of money as we are doing it now. We have to think, what we are offering in the name of health infrastructure to our upcoming generations.

Recently we had got the news about PPE Kit scam in Himachal Pradesh. How can anyone think about inhumane works during the darkday of a nation. Do you think they are having capabilities to serve the nation. If our selection goes wrong, consequences will be wrong only.

I had read in the newspaper, people are worshiping corona in Kerla, Bihar and many other states.

What do you think about it?

As I think, our society had believed in orthodox, magic of God or Goddess etc. This is continuing since ancient times. Many of the prominent leaders in history had sacrificed there entire life to make people understand and forced to think about orthodox, chandelier, unethical rituals performed in the country. They worked to eliminate such things but it is not cleaned up fully. So, even today I can say, people can be manipulated easily because science based culture is absent in the society.

Recently Delhi government stated that only the residents of Delhi can be treated in the states hospital (private or public). And I am thinking what will happen if same statement would be stated through out the country. There would be chaos in the nation. There is no states in the country who is not dependent on other states. His previous statement was, people come from other state and get treated and go back. I would like to ask, do Delhi government didn't get benifited by travelling to their state. As a democratic nation, such statement shows the thought process of government towards the population who don't get adequate facility in his state. He never made statement over workers. Those who go Delhi for work, where they will go for medical treatment, to their native state? Does it make sense?

If we see, our country has bifurcated into two by an invisible thread on the basis of medical care i.e South India and North India. In the southern part of country has good medical facility but in other hand, it is observed that most of the states having nothing much in the name of medical facility. 'NIMHANS' in Bengaluru, only hospital in India situated in the southern part of the country. The reason behind it, as I think is, the presence of health care in the state list instead of the concurrent list in schedule 7 of the Constitution.

As we know, health sector is a non-profitable business in India. So, market players had found the solution of it. Market players came up with the solution of private sector in health sector. Indian private hospitals are mimicking U.S. hospitals. Consequences of it can be observed as the increasing medical tourism in India. Which is very good sign for the developing nation like India.

PUBLIC Vs PRIVATE CARE :-

During corona pandemic, it is reported that private health care is asking consultant fee, which is unacceptable at this moment. Many cases of suicide and running out of the public hospitals had come during this pandemic, I think it is related to the matter of cleanliness and lac of infrastructure of the hospital. They might feel insecure due to the lac of adequate health care. Such condition gives birth to the private hospitals in the city. Since independence India has focused to eradicate tuberculosis, polio, Malaria etc. these were the big issues of that time. But time has come that government has to focus not only on individual disease but also health infrastructure that includes hospital bed, ventilator etc.Our government is spending very less part of GDP over health i.e 1.3% of our GDP, Which is very low. Whereas U.S spends of its more than 15%.

Now, we are talking about the quality of products instead quantity of it. Which is a good sign of maturity for a developing nation but we are not asking it from our government. Instead of asking these quality health care in public hospitals, we choose to move towards the private hospitals. The reason behind it is, we getting economically better. So, we don't need to raise our voice. You don't think, we should ask to transform the public hospitals for better equipment for the medical care. Public health care development is a very slow process but compassionate and altruistic whereas private health care is a business, revenue generating but brutal assault. For example we can see such things in a movie called 'Gabbar is back'.

As I had experienced in public hospitals, most of the doctors run their own clinic besides their job. If patient visit to the public hospitals, they used to get the pamphlet of his clinic to visit there. 80-90% of the population who visit to the public hospitals are from economically backward section. They don't think about the quality or quantity of services served to them, they are result oriented due to the illiteracy level of the nation. Asking for quality medical services reflects income and wealth in the nation. And it is estimated that the wealth of top 1% in India is four times the combined wealth of bottom 70%.  it reflects me as the marks of exam of Mathematics paper which is also described in same manner😄. 

You can see the private medicine shops which has connection with the hospitals. It is not restricted to visit other medicine counter but you can't buy the prescribed medicine from another shop because doctor will prefer to go with only those medicines which is available to their collaborated shops. This monopoly hurts me more because you have right to buy from other shops but you won't find that anywhere else. One of the most interesting thing is, most of the staff who sells medicine or compounder who inject medicine to us have no qualification of such courses. After practising in a hospital for years as a staff, they become doctor in the remote areas of our country. This is how it works in my village 🤓. 

Yoga and Ayurveda

Yoga is the oldest way to be fit. It was started in India by Patanjali. It is said that yoga was developed 1st time during Indus-Saraswati civilisation in Northern India as mentioned in the oldest sacred text Rig veda. 

Yoga was the way to be fit mentally and physically as well during the earlier times and it is relevant todays times too. Our country has faced so many epidemic in history but controlled all of them by Ayurveda and yoga. Yes, we have lost many lives due to lack of medicines. As we can see in Ramayana, when Lakshman, younger brother of Lord Ram felt unwell. he was being treated with herbals (Jari-booti) of ayurvedic medicine. Even nowadays, most of the people have believed in ayurvedic care because of less side effect. You can find Aloevera in most of the people's garden and they use it widely. This is the indication that we are returning to our core values. 

Need to be done... 

1. Government should increase the spending. By spending on public healthcare is not enough, it must have to reach to the ground without malpractice and it should be utilized in a proper way such that maximum population of the country can enjoy the facilities. And continuity of adequate facility of healthcare to the hinterland is more important. 

2. Health insurance should be offered by the government to the every single citizen. I am asking it for everyone with a proper reason. I think without insurance it is a milestone for a poor to get the quality treatment. And if you think about the orphan kids or old aged people who are not getting cared by their kid, it is really a big challenge for them to be cured. Specially orphan kids may feel unfare happenings with them. 

3. Health care should be accessible for everyone. If it is not happening, then everything which is mentioned above is worthless for the general population. They might feel cheated because for the rich people all the gates are open for their treatment. So, we have to open the same gate for rest of the population. As we read I the news of our political leaders, who visit foreign for health check up. 

4. Comparing the cost with quality work and zero impact medicine with higher cost. The goals in the treatment of cancer are to prolong survival with an acceptable quality of life at a reasonable cost. Cost plays an important role in the treatment. At this point, everyone used to decide whether go for treatment or not. I had seen many a times that doctor prescribes extra medicine in the name of immunity building or else which is a part of their business to run private medicals. People can't ignore it because if anything went wrong, then only the patient would be responsible for sufferings. 

5. Blood donation is required. It is the key that would be the factor of social change. We need to create a positive environment at village level for it. I know, it would take time to Change but the day when it would get clear to everyone that anyone can save lives just by donating blood. That would be the real development in healthcare infrastructure. 

6. Government should think towards increasing life expectancy rate, which is 70 yrs (approximately). It has increased continuously since independence. You might have observed it while climbing mountain, it gets steeper as we go up similarly it happens vin our life too. Even our life also has expiry date but we don't reach to that date due to the unhealthiness of our mind, body and soul. 

Way forward:-

The work of business icon, celebrity and many social workers should be appreciated. Government also had come up with insurance facility under Ayushman Bharat scheme for the economically backwards. Some good steps are being taken to improve our healthcare.what ever the scheme or programme run byvthe government, it should be accessible easily. Why I am saying is, most of the people for whom it is being done are uneducated. So, we need to cover them accordingly. I am still waiting for a program of free health check up for poors by the government itself and implementation of it should also be in appreciate way. I think these small steps can make big difference. If such small decision were taken and implementation of such scheme is accessible effortlessly then it may make difference in ranking of health index worldwide. 

Indian Army is also talking about healthcare development by the use of Artificial Intelligence in robotic nursing of soldiers in the battlefield. It could be used for maintaining data as documentation of previous disease of every soldiers in the battlefield and cured accordingly. It can save lives and time as well. 

As a society, when average population feels uncomfort to afford anything that becomes luxury. 

Luxury is the most popular thing which is copied in India. Most of the people have their aim of life to be luxurious😃. The only difference is right covers all remaining population who can't go for luxury. Being healthy is luxury itself. So, basically I am asking for right to luxury. 

The only thing I wanted to change is the thought process. How we think about anything is everything or we are missing out something that could make sense. The most important thing I had talked here is about blood donation, that could change the attitude of upcoming generation to help anyone byvthe donation of there body parts or blood. As the young generation, we can run to the moon to succeed. Few things I would like to share, these words alwys utter in my mind whenever I left out with my schedule of work. There is nothing in this world is permanent, no one has come here to live for forever. The life cycle goes like Born, Disability and Death. But what we have to focus on is the middle phase of it i.e disability. We need to see the challenges and have to face and defeat it as well. We need to be health conscious. If you are young, donate blood and save lives. Because if we have life then only we have world.

It is upto you, how you think about my question and how you answer this? Do you wish to go for an extramile to achieve something good for others? Answer yourself. 

Thank you... 

Jai hind 🇮🇳