Serious issues regarding health are seen these days in Punjab, both from the public as well as health care providers’ point of view. If we talk about patients, since the pandemic, patients suffering from diseases other than coronavirus are generally neglected, and they often report to hospitals, once their disease becomes much advanced. For this delay both patients and hospitals are responsible.
People are scared that once they go to the hospitals, they will be asked for extra investigations, tests and precautions, horrible rise in prices of everything, including medicines has further augmented this issue. so a trend has risen in patients to avoid going to hospitals unless they have no other option. On the other hand, during days of the high incidence of coronavirus, Dengue and the focus of hospitals is more on dealing with these emergencies and putting other cases on the waiting list, so the diseases go on worsening, thus, we are bound to go against principle.
This has created much chaos among patients, who have to pay heavy prices both in the shape of their health and money. Doctors are receiving patients who are often in a very bad, advanced state. Rising prices in all fields of life is also another reason, why old age people often avoid their treatment in the early stage, they prefer to do something for their children, thus, sacrificing themselves.
On the other hand, health care providers in particular doctors, are facing much uncertainty. Although our country still needs many more doctors, to provide proper health care to the entire population of the country, those who already have become doctors are facing innumerable problems. They don’t have any proper avenue to serve their nation and make progress in their profession and carrier.
The government should patronise the medical profession, should keep a strict eye on all medical colleges so that no college is allowed to operate below a minimum standard, examination systems from the very beginning, be maintained to keep an equal standard across the board. At least the top 10 Graduates from every medical college, who bear extraordinary academic records throughout, should be exempted from the central induction policy, for allowing them to get postgraduate qualification earlier than others.
I am afraid if talent and merit are neglected continuously, talented people who have already become frustrated will, leave the country. This brain drain will be a disaster for our country. Another issue is the implementation of the MTI act. Ideally, it should be implemented after establishing proper infrastructure. Otherwise, it may produce chaos among many experienced and senior doctors, whose presence in the system will be very useful for quality treatment of patients and production of good doctors in future. The governing body should look after the genuine needs of health care providers and they will look after their patients and perform their duties comfortably and happily.
Health card introduced by Government is a good initiative, provided, its utility is in the right direction and it meets the ground realities, which include not only proper health care provision to patients but also, reasonable payment to the health care providers.
DR EHSAN UR REHMAN,
Lahore.
