This board at the entrance of the CMC Hospital Ludhiana made me reflect about some realities in health care.
There are many who need subsidised or free health care inspite of the efforts to provide it at the government hospitals and through insurance schemes. They are on the increase inspite of the trickle down effect of globalisation and neo-lieral economic policies.
Many would like to get the subsidised or free care from patient friendly hospitals where health care is practiced compassionately and based on sound ethical practices under the care of competent and experienced professionals.
The health care is a costly investment which many in this disadvantaged group would find it difficult to make inspite of the desperation to do so. The debt trap and life long economic burden this creates is phenomenal that families are hesitant to seek health care. I have a neighbour who has a nodule in the Thyroid for five years now and still not ready to go to the hospital for fear of all that it would involve to get admitted in a hospital surgery. His fear is that it would cause unforeseen difficulties and financial stress.
I was called to see a one month old infant in the neighbourhood who has an early sign of infantile eczema. The family did not seek medical help for three weeks because the heavy cost of visiting a specialist. A 8 year old child with his family came to visit us at night to get some advice about his fever lasting for a week now. They too waited to avoid a costly treatment.
I was glad to see the above bard, because CMC Ludhiana is showing the way to be inclusive in our approach to health care for the disadvantaged. Well done and it would hopefully show the way for other hospitals!
M.C.Mathew(photo and text)
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