Indu Raina
The people of J & K are in no way different from the people of the rest of the country regarding the non-serious [ CHALTA HAI] attitude towards their health issues. Some times this carelessness results in high precedence of life threatening diseases. In fact a study of risk factors for the high prevalence of most common disease ie, type 2 diabetes in the people of J&K was conducted by the institute of human genetics,university of Jammu and during the research it was revealed that mean age of diagnosis of the disease was about 53, 54, years. It was further concluded that Jammu population in North India is at higher risk of developing diabetes and its related complications. Besides it has also been recorded that Kashmir has high precedence of gastric cancer because of special dietary habits
I think , some of the following factors are contributory to this gloomy picture. These may be personal hygiene,unhealthy food habits, reluctance to have periodic health check ups, unreliability of pathological tests of unregistered laboratories, supply of adulterated food,unhygienic storage system, unhygienic local dairies, fake medicines, unfriendly atmosphere at doctor’s clinics, poor infrastructure in our hospitals and inability of people to meet the high medical expenditure.
Hygiene & unhealthy food habits
Isn’t it shocking to imagine that while the whole world is so advanced, rather in the space age. where do we figure with open air toilets still in vogue. Most of us eat from roadside vendors, vegetables and fruit are sold on dirty roads at many places and when we buy them we don’t buy them alone but along with a bundle of health problems.
Milk, being the wholesome food is consumed by the people of all age groups. But the milk management of the local dairies is quite unhygienic and besides adulteration of milk makes it most unsafe for consumption and unknowingly leads us to serious health problems. The issue does not end here only. After milching the cows to the last drop , these are let loose on roads to hunt for their food in uncovered filthy municipal vans,heaps of garbage lying on roads and in open plots,nallahs etc. Same is the case with our water supply. On our routine walks, often we come across at certain places, the water pipes leaking water through various cuts and the muddy water pumps into these pipes
Adulteration of food items
Right from milk, ghee, sweets spices and what not, even fruit is not spared [,fruit is being injected with certain chemicals to grow in size and weight.] all our food items are not safe to eat. In short, we find adulteration in almost all our food items but does the concerned agency ever take any serious action against these unlawful activities
Reluctance to regular health check ups
Usually,the people are not in the habit of undergoing regular medical check ups or tests. But question arises as to why do we neglect our health.Perhaps the whole process is quite cumbersome,
After the Almighty, a doctor is considered to be a savior, a friend, a humble consultant and the patient’s only hope of recovery lies in the hands of such saviors.
Hippocrates oath for doctors reads as ”
” I swear to fulfill, to the best of my ability and judgement this covenant;
I will respect the hard-won scientific gains of those physicians in whose steps I walk, and gladly share such knowledge as is mine with those who are to follow.
I will apply, for the benefit of the sick all measures that are required avoiding those twin traps or overtreatment and therapeutic nihilism.—————May I always act so as to preserve the finest traditions of my calling and may I long experience the joy of healing those who seek my help
Wonder, if the doctors abide by this oath
No doubt, the ability and knowledge of our doctors is of very high standard , but it is the human touch, the humble attitude of the doctor to his patients that needs attention. Their focus should not be on the number of the patients they treat but towards their noble job they are supposed to do, ie, cure and well being of their patients.
The access of the patient to the doctors should be smooth and easy. Generally, the procedure is that the name of the patient is listed beforehand in the book of the medical assistant. In order to avoid wastage of time and unnecessary inconvenience to the patients who have to wait for hours together for their turn. Isn’t it better if the assistant gives the appointed time on some chit to the patient along with his serial no .
Secondly, why does the test results of different pathological laboratories vary a lot. There arises a doubt and confusion in a patient’s mind regarding the accuracy of his reported tests
Fake medicines— We get medicines of well known companies but actually these medicines are locally made with what potency and substance. God only is the witness. Again it is the patient who suffers in the end;
Another snag is the lack of infrastructure,medical technology and expertise in our urban as well as rural hospitals
The rural dispensaries lack the requisite manpower,as also the essential medical equipment. According to the latest rural health statistics, out of 315 sanctioned posts of specialist doctors,as many as 139 posts are still lying vacant. Why not to make it compulsory for the medical students to give an undertaking to serve in the rural hospitals after completing their course.
Last point is the inability of most of the patients to bear the heavy medical bills. Compulsory health insurance schemes could be helpful.
Unless and until things improve and the people too change their hygiene and dietary habits we can’t hope to have a healthy and a happy state.
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