When green leaves turn yellow, they are ready to become brown and fall off the tree! The leaves return to the earth that sustained them till then. This is the cycle of life!
This process of green leaves turning yellow, brown and falling off would take several weeks. Their lives come to an end.
Life is about changes taking place all the time.
A family who returned to India from the USA for getting medical attention for their three years old son, told me that their appointment to meet a specialist is now after six months. So they are here to get all the essentials done for their son during their holiday of one month.
While listening to the story of this family now waiting for one year to get help for their son, I realised how the health care system is insurance centred and controlled. The unfairness it creates is more than what is apparent. If a person is able to get an insurance which involves paying a higher cost, he or she gets better and faster service. The cost factor determines the service one is entitled for!
Life moves on like the palm leaf in the photo above. Life has its journey path.
Health care is a provision to make this life journey supportive and restorative.
But that is not how it is working. Most people find health care expenses unaffordable.
Thanks to some initiatives by the government of Kerala, the public hospitals are getting upgraded to give comprehensive care for non-communicable diseases.
Health care is to support people to celebrate life and live productively.
Every time a child with developmental needs walk in to the consultation room, I like to remember this palm leaf in the picture above. The children and families come weary and worn out showing signs of anxiety and despair!
It is an occasion to be most generous in thought and deed.!
M.C.Mathew(text and photo)
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