‘Health is Wealth’ and we are on some major mission to prove this saying true. Health is one of the most treasured and valued possession we could have. Falling ill is a testament to that fact. What scares me more than ill health however, is a dreaded trip to the hospital. Be it for myself or as an accompanying concerned, a trip down those hallways is, putting it lightly, daunting. There are loads of aspects that account for the eerie feeling we get and the knot in the pit of the stomach that has no medical cause whatsoever.
Our healthcare system in India leaves a lot to be desired. Considering the taxes we do pay, one would think we would be greeted with habitable surroundings if nothing else, oh what wishful thinking we indulge in. The public sector, though well established, is an experience of epic proportions. From the dull corridors to the unclean walls in an area where sanitation is supposed to be paramount makes one wonder how much human life is actually valued. I do appreciate those who work in such conditions day in and day out for the psychological effect of those conditions coupled with the despair that illness brings is not easy to cope with. We need to lay our expectations bare. Healthcare is a service we all deserve and since it is a human service those in it need to exude humanity. What is interesting to note is that, as professionals in their field, doctors and nurses do come across illness and the pain of it on a daily basis and thus it is matter of fact. Yes, they know exactly what they are doing and all respect to them. However, the patient before them is not really in the habit of making routine trips to the emergency room. The flippant attitude that people receive when seeking help is something that needs a second thought. Asking for help and receiving it is a right we have as individuals.
For those who do have the means to pay for private treatment do have a whole lot to contend with as well. From the long registration queues which are the ‘most important’ thing to do first irrespective of the fact that you are writhing in pain, to the pay first and get tested later we all have our battles to fight. A horror that I encountered in the recent past was a colonoscopy that has left me scarred for life. The doctor was extremely kind and reassuring and he also made it a point to congratulate me for not demanding anaesthesia… with tears in my eyes and a pained expression I had to thank him for his motivation and concede that I was absolutely unaware that it was an option I had, for if only I had been informed, I would have jumped to the opportunity. Apparently I should have known, since it is ‘known fact’. Yes it was known fact to him, I do not go around finding out facts about cameras being pushed up people’s rear ends. The torture could have been avoided if I had been briefed about the procedures I was being sent for.
When dealing with human beings, being mindful of the human psyche is of the highest importance. Concern and compassion for another human, is a personal touch that would go a long way in comforting those in distress. A smile of reassurance, a nod of acknowledgement, a moment of undivided attention would work wonders to calm a fragile nerve. Explaining the medical terms which are as scary and confusing as the paranormal activity movies are, would help in making an already confusing situation slightly clearer. Going the extra mile to put people at ease will not only be beneficial for the patients but also for the entire medical staff as it would mean a more responsive and cooperative person to deal with.
The public hospitals provide much needed care to those who find a private hospital way too expensive. They are doing a great job of bringing modern medication and treatment to the masses. The horror comes in the picture when one has to share their sleeping quarters with rats and cockroaches and other forms of life other than human. The pain comes from the lack of staff for the hundreds and thousands demanding medical attention and the disregard for the suffering that people are going through. The private hospitals are cleaner, brighter and the staff are more forthcoming and friendly. They do make the pain of being ill bearable. The horror story begins at the billing counter. Yes, looking at the current scenario, ‘Health is Wealth’ is the plainest truth and as citizens of a ‘progressive country’, where we pay our taxes, proper healthcare is not a mere privilege but our right.
