Unhealthy at 65: India has 76% shortfall in government doctors

 “Health is wealth;” it s an old adage. Somehow our politicians and the planners failed to realise the value of health. It is a naked truth that majority Indians lack proper health and the number of maydays lost due to sickness runs to millions. Reports suggest that at any time one or more members of a family are afflicted by ill –health. The situation is worse in the case of the poor, both in the urban and rural areas. A recent study of slums in the million plus cities of Tamil Nadu (Chennai, Coimbatore and Madurai) supervised by this commentator, serious health problem exist in slums everywhere. According to this study, “58.6 percent of the households had one or more members suffering from some kind of diseases or other during one month prior to the investigation. Malaria, dysentery, diarrhea, asthma, bronchitis, tuberculosis, chicken guinea etc. were among the most common diseases that affected them. The incidence of disease was also relatively high in their case and the frequent occurrence of diseases had affected their families. The respondents reported that in case of common illness like cold, fever, dysentery, etc., they did their own treatment or they approached nearby medical practitioners. They stated that they had to depend upon government and corporation hospitals and dispensaries for illness requiring medical attention. However, they were quite unhappy about the cumbersome procedures, long waits and poor medical attention in the government hospitals and corporations dispensaries. Quite a few respondents opined that the general rush in the outpatient departments of the hospitals was so heavy that the doctors found no sufficient time to attend all the patients with due care. The availability of doctors, medicines and chances of treatment were erratic. Seldom are the doctors or medicines available. Moreover, many respondents stated that they had to grease somebody’s palm to get proper treatment.” The situation is not different among the poor in rural areas. The reason is meager investment in public health. India's spending on health care continues to be very low. Not enough public health centers are there. Where there are hospitals, doctors and nurses are available, particularly in rural areas because of their shortage. Where doctors and nurses are available medicines will not be there. Government should take a bold decision on the issue and find ways to spend more money for public health. All the more, care should be taken to spend money spend in a proper way without any misuse. Medical education should be made easy and affordable for all sections of the community. Dr.C.Murukadas, The Times of India, August16, 2012.