IS ALL REALLY WELL?? (PART II)

It is alleged that doctors are writing unnecessary and costly medications. Doctors are no ones to decide the price of a drug. They do not manufacture or give license to drug manufacturers. Controlling the price of essential drugs is a government job, a matter in which doctors are helpless. A large amount of rural population should have access to cheap generic drugs, but also, the pharmacy companies that charge more for the drugs are the ones that spend millions of rupees for research and development of new drugs. Had there not been drug trials, no new drugs would have been invented and the mortality rates would have been comparable to Stone Age. Many reputed pharmaceutical giants who have invested much money into research and development naturally keep the prices of their products a little high. This is understandably inevitable and the fact has to be accepted that quality comes only at a cost. Also, many local companies manufacture generic products (which is a copy of the original molecule discovered by the expensive company which can be used for unaffordable patients). But many of these generic drugs are of substandard quality and are the reason of many uncalled deaths due to drug reactions. If this seems like an exaggeration, let’s recall the regular incidents in our country of spurious and sub-standard drugs and even vaccines killing the people who happen to receive them. The drugs dispensed by the government hospitals fail to bring down the high fever and other ailments of patients who go there, while the same drug prescribed by the same government doctor, dispensed by a private chemist across the road, quickly puts the patient back on his feet. And the responsibility for the quality of drugs also comes to lie on the doctors.

Doctors do not sleep for numerous nights. Their life is just books and tests because they have to save lives in future. No light has ever been thrown on the entrance examinations and the hard work, dedication and sacrifices a doctor needs. A day spent in the emergency department and OPD of a hospital would make many realize that the work timings, working conditions, lunch breaks, doctor to patient ratio, hours of sleep per week, living conditions in the hostel and the stipend is worse than a class 4 laborer. Doctors are always exposed to infections as they are always around the sick. Their job is not from 9 to 5 but it is 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, till they die. Their family life is a mess because they don’t spend time with them.

Government hospitals should multiply several folds, with an increase in the number of doctors in each department, improving the doctor to patient ratio. Doctor's salaries and living conditions should be looked after and should be comparable to other professionals. Government hospitals should be upgraded to the standard of private hospitals, which is the job of the government. The general population too bears the responsibility to maintain the govt. property like hospitals. Corruption should be stopped at the topmost level that eats the major chunk of hospital funds. Doctors should be given proper social security. The primary school education must include more and more health related topics so that the general public is made aware about common diseases and the 'acceptable' qualifications of the doctors. None of our film stars ever gets him treated at a government hospitals, preferring foreign doctors and corporate hospitals. If quality treatment (at lower cost) is available at government hospitals, no one would want to go to empty their pockets at corporate hospitals. Also, the pharmaceutical companies should be regulated. They are the real money makers, with doctors being just the apparent culprits. Regulatory authorities should also keep a check on the quality of drugs being manufactured and at the same time, sold at the local chemist.

People are misled by watching such T.V. shows. They must use their brains as it is a sensitive issue. After watching such a show, people might also start suspecting the doctor of fleecing even in cases of “real” emergencies. If there are panel discussions to find solutions in a healthy way in such shows, a lot more viable solutions would have come up. Calling all the doctors as “TRADERS OF DEATH” is as serious allegation as calling all actors 'Rapists' (after one incident in the film industry) or all persons of a particular community 'Terrorists'. Knowing that many facts had been twisted to strike a chord with the audience, little faith is left in the stories that would be projected in the upcoming shows. A large segment of the 'classes' as well as 'masses' feels betrayed. The myth of an unbiased actor who strives for nothing but the truth and the betterment of the society has been busted.

It is very easy to point fingers. All might not be well. But all is not well anywhere. It is a different thing creating awareness about dowry or female feticide. But it is an entirely different matter to comment on such a technical and complicated issue without getting into the details of it. The entire medical fraternity is being maligned. For every 10 doctors who are doing wrong, there are more than 1000 healers. Someone somewhere does owe the doctors an apology. This issue is not as simple as is thought it is. Justice cannot be done to such an issue, especially after charging a whooping amount for creating awareness. Only a few doctors may be doing just a little bit of social service, but at least they do not charge for it!!!