"SUPER"-stition Vs Medical Science

Diseases are not confined to the realms of health, whether it's your physical well-being or your mental state. They bring a whole array of consequences with them, and you won't truly grasp the full picture until you experience it first hand. This is the harsh reality of life. My epiphany struck like a bolt of lightning when I recently contracted chickenpox.

Firstly, as a trained medical professional, I was deeply concerned when two of my family members fell ill with chickenpox, one of whom was an adult. The situation quickly deteriorated for the adult family member, progressing to a stage where medical treatment was deemed ineffective by doctors. At that point, we resorted to superstitions and outdated practices for treatment, leaving me feeling powerless and conflicted, both as a family member and a healthcare professional. Superstition seemed to have overshadowed medical science.

Secondly, as a patient, I came face to face with the financial challenges associated with an acute disease, especially one that can last up to two weeks, let alone chronic illnesses that persist for a lifetime. Seeking top-notch treatment in the private healthcare sector came at a significant cost. I’m sharing some figures with you:

The initial consultation cost me Rs. 900, and the medication expenses were around Rs. 2500.

Subsequent consultations cost Rs. 800, with medication costs totaling around Rs. 2200.

In total, I spent approximately Rs. 6400 on an acute illness. This amounted to 12% of my monthly earnings, considering only the direct costs. If I factor in the indirect costs due to the loss of salary, this figure rose to 42%. And can be called as catastrophic expenditure on acute illness. These numbers reflect the current state of our Indian healthcare system.

Thirdly, as a concerned citizen and member of the community, I noticed the lack of preparedness, insufficient availability of accurate information, and a trust deficit between the healthcare system and the citizens. Had my family and I trusted the healthcare system more and had we been better informed about available treatments and facilities (a challenge stemming from narrow policy focus), our experience could have been vastly different. The relentless pursuit of privatization in healthcare must be halted. What we truly need are policies that prioritize the strengthening of the Indian public healthcare system, bridging the trust gap between citizens and healthcare services.

Rather than looking to the "West" for solutions, we should focus on internal resources and innovations. Our healthcare policies must evolve to become more patient-centric and inclusive, addressing the needs of all. It's not just about specific diseases in specific places; it's about all of us.

I encourage all of you to share your experiences, allowing the Health Parliament, India's leading think tank, to use your insights for policy submissions. We are also actively building the largest community of global healthcare professionals and creating future healthcare leaders. Additionally, we're dedicated to establishing the largest community of patients through the International Patients’ Union. Let our collective experiences and collective consciousness serve as our collective voice.

You can download the Patients Union Mobile app:

Play store: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=patients.union

App store: https://apps.apple.com/in/app/patients-union/id6449766453

Together, let's revolutionize healthcare.

Team Health Parliament