Shed a few tears

Three stories from last couple of days in the hospital….

Story 1 - 65-year-old man came to us with a severe peripheral neuropathy, secondary to a burnt out Hansen’s (Leprosy) and our Junior Medical Officer diagnosed him very well. Put him on just a simple tablet of “Pregabalin” and send him home.

He comes back to us 4 months later with a bag full of investigations and a pharmacy. Though from a poor background, his children decided, their father has to be taken to Delhi. Took through multiple centers spend about 20,000/- (or more,) with MRIs and scans finally ended at AIIMS. At AIIMS, a burnt-out Hansen’s with peripheral neuropathy was diagnosed and was send back on the same tablet “Pregabalin”. He returned to us, a few thousands less just to confirm if AIIMS was right. And to check with us – which takat ka drug he should take from the bag full of multiple multi vitamins, of various companies, prescribed by each practioner he saw, each time adding on to his home pharmacy, promoting them as the cure!

I was left wondering, those who were right did not make money, those who were not in the right looted a few thousands from this poor unsuspecting old man.  The story of Indian health care – one of the 1000s of such daily stories, would Modi-care do the magic of improving trust in the local systems – I hope and pray it will!  

Story 2 - A 85 -year-old lady from a very well-off family, on a ventilated ambulance was shifted from the most sought-after NCR (Delhi) corporate hospital, for further care to the local hospital. She ended up in our ICU. Weighing 100 kilos or more, with multiple large infected bed sores, on a ventilator after having had the latest generation of antibiotics, she is now with us – awaiting the inevitable. All she needs is compassionate end of life care but what is expected is a miracle.

But it did not come easily for them. Airlifted from Nepal to Delhi, admitted to the supposedly premier center in NCR, for 5 days after spending a few lacs, (over heard about 10 lacs) now expecting miracle cure and subsidy for treatment.

Another picture of health care India. The money looting corporates, the wealthy who are willing to go anywhere for prestige and willing to buy the best promoted health care. but finally, what matters is compassion and care. I hope the new NMC (National Medical Council) would lead to a new generation of compassionate health care professionals.

A third picture – 25-year-old lady with 6 girls born to her, unable to give birth to a boy, with supposedly the knowledge and prodding of the family including her husband, had relationship with another man, to hopefully get a boy child. The husband, living in “videsh” came home and decided to take her to the doctor for? abortion vs sex determination vs something else – one does not know what.

She decided to end her life in the midst of all this, and now is struggling to survive on the ventilator after ingesting poison. But the husband who has come from videsh seemed to be unconcerned about the status of his wife, observing his mannerism and attitudes. We have 7 poisonings admitted this week to ICU and ward – with similar or more complex stories. Of the 800 or more this last year we might have seen in this small rural hospital.

Another picture of the changing health scenario in our nation. I hope the people involved in the health policy discussions at the high places would have some listening ears.  To respond to the emerging and ongoing epidemics of rural frustrations and gender inequalities, amidst all the allocations for new AIIMS, Ayurvedic universities.

Cry my beloved nation for its health and health care….at least shed a few tears....