With the people's and government's help, changing our healthcare system is attainable
Today’s fast paced world has led to the creation of all kinds of new diseases in addition to the existing ones. Our problems add to our worries, lack of time forces us to opt for fast food, lack of exercise and a preferred sedentary lifestyle due to the large amount of time spent in offices all lead to the so-called man-made diseases. Better medical facilities have raised the overall life expectancy and this has added up more geriatric related problems to the disease burden of society. Obesity, young diabetic people, early coronary artery diseases, early osteoarthritis, gout, etc are some of these new diseases that man has made.
All of this has increased the demand for more health care, besides an additional financial burden on citizens. Health care is growing industry and its demands are increasing everyday thanks to the growing population and the rise of illnesses. The health care industry, or medical industry, is an aggregation of sectors within the economic system that provides good services to treat patients with curative, preventive, rehabilitative, and palliative care. The modern health care industry is divided into many sectors and depends on interdisciplinary teams of trained professionals and paraprofessionals to meet the health needs of individuals and populations.
Over the past decade we have seen a tremendous rise in the cost of medical treatment and with the private sectors flourishing in Goa, the affordability of the common man is questioned. As we are aware that most multinational companies(MNCs ) and big corporates offer health insurance to their employees and their family, the rest of the population either depends on private insurance and government hospitals for their health care needs.
Goa is a small state where people believe in working and living life at peace - “Susegad Goenkars’’as we love to call ourselves. The citizens have poor awareness of their health-care. Aerobic exercises most necessary for fitness is just known to a few. The importance of regular health check-up, proper care of diabetes and hypertension is just in its infancy in this state.
A unique scheme of "Mediclaim" was introduced in Goa since 1989. Under this scheme, financial assistance will be provided for availing super specialties which are not available under the state government hospitals, to residents of Goa, who have been staying in Goa for a minimum period of 15 years, and whose annual house hold income is less than Rs 1,50,000 per annum. The patients can avail the super specialty medical treatment under this scheme in any of the recognized hospitals in Goa or outside the state.
However limited health facilities at the government level has forced people to opt for private health insurance so that they can avail of speedy and world class treatment. A large number of private hospitals are now coming up in and around Goa with excellent facilities. However most Goans do not have health insurance as they are used to the Mediclaim facility of the past. The Goa government had also proposed a general medicalim scheme similar to UK's National Health Scheme (NHS) but it did not work out. Such schemes, however, are necessary to take care of the health care needs of the people across the state.
The population of Goa is around 1.817 million - less than 10 per cent of this has private insurance, the rest are at the mercy of government health care with their poorly equipped district hospitals, inexperienced staff and doctors. Just recently, we saw a news flash about the nightmare at Hospicio hospital where the patients and staff had to face lot of problems due to a power cut. This at a time when the temperatures in the state were soaring . Since most government hospitals, especially the rural ones, lack facilities for major cases like cardiac, joint replacements ,neuro surgery etc, these are catered to by the Goa Medical College. Now this becomes a big challenge and burden to the only GMC to cater to this huge population which in turn affects the quality of the treatment rendered to the patient.
In future the government should take steps to improve the district and urban health centers in the state and provide basic facilities. Secondly, the government should tie-up with private sector hospitals giving the patient reimbursement facility up to a reasonable amount or to work out a package of treatment with the private sector hospitals so that the load is shared and the patient gets the best possible treatment. This can be done involving various private insurances where the people along with the government may invest for the health protection of every Goenkar. If the government comes up with such schemes, the people of Goa will be blessed with the best medical facilities at the right time. No Goan will ever need to run from pillar to post to avail medical attention.
- Dr Ameya Velingker is a consultant orthopaedics, arthritis and joint replacement professional based in Goa
