I am a doctor and my circumstances are such that I am NOT AFFECTED BY Aamir Khan's programme personally. Therefore I hope you will consider my views unbiased and read them objectively and not emotionally. I agree with the various points Aamir has raised in the programme. HOWEVER I HAVE A FIRM BELIEF THAT DUE TO HIS PROGRAMME LIVES WILL BE LOST. Read on and then tell me if I am wrong.Please remember I agree IN PRINCIPLE with all of the points he has raised in the programme.
1- Aamir stressed the point of generic medicines which in itself is a great one. In the UK about 80% of all prescriptions are in generic form. BUT there is a big difference between UK and in India. In UK all generic medicines are same quality as branded ones. In India where 75% of the population is in rural areas and a great proportion is not educated, how will you prevent them being sold chalk tablets by every pharmacist with accompanying dialogue " this is the generic that Aamir Khan was talking about in "satyamev jayate"". I suspect this advice to gullible public to ask for generics without checks on quality of the generic medication is a recipe for disaster and will result in LOSS OF LIVES as poor illiterate millions are fed spurious medicines in the name of "Aamir Khan recommended generics of Satyamev Jayete". The poor uneducated thousands have no clue about the difference in generic made by Pfizer, Ranbaxy etc from the one made in the next backstreet illegal medicine factory. I talk from experience as chemists have been selling low quality locally made generics to the poor illiterate folk all the time. Even in the government hospital and primary healthcare, medical supplies of generics are mostly substandard. If the quality cannot be ensured there, how will the private chemists be made to adhere to quality control?
2. In healthcare trust and faith in your doctor is as important as, if not more than the actual treatment. In clinical trial even placebo medication ( dummy medication) works in a lot of patients because of their belief that they are taking medication for their ailment so should get better. Aamir Khan with one stroke has destroyed that trust and faith. No doubt black sheep should be exposed and punished but now the trust between millions of rural and urban poor and millions of well meaning god fearing doctors has been shattered. It will result in misery and mistrust and apparent lack of effect of treatment as patients believe now that their doctor is not treating them right and is a cheat.
3. Though it is not a rule but does pass the test of common sense that people without requisite intellect who become doctors and specialists by paying 50 Lacs for MBBS and a similar amount for postgraduate degree are more likely to try and get returns on their investment. Since private medical colleges are a good source of income for politicians and their ilk, Aamir Khan could have highlighted the politicians in this nefarious nexus. But no, that could have upset some powerful people. Solution-Ignore the politicians who are the root cause of mushrooming private medical colleges where you can buy your medical degree. Go for the soft target, Doctors.
4. I was enjoying every episode of "satyamev jayete" and even with this episode I was quite embarrassed that the IMA were appearing to be making a fool of themselves by demanding an apology from Aamir Khan, but having read the story of the doctors involved in the case that was highlighted, http://www.aalatimes.com/2012/
5. Again Aamir Khan has played with many lives by jeopardising the Cadever organ transplant scheme which is well established and well organised but has been jeopardized already by .Major Rai's many lawsuits.
6. NOW IF THIS EMINENT TRANSPLANT SURGEON WHO LEFT MULTIMILLION DOLLAR PRACTICE IN USA TO SERVE HIS COUNTRYMEN DECIDES TO GO BACK TO USA, HOW IS AAMIR KHAN DIFFERENT FROM THOSE WHO HOUNDED OUT THE EMINENT DOCTOR HIGHLIGHTED EARLIER IN HIS PROGRAMME, WHO CAME BACK TO UK FROM INDIA.
In summary, Healthcare is a very complex field and is different from all other trades that involve things or commodities as here faith and trust works as much as the actual treatment. Therefore every step of change should be well thought out as it can have some very unexpected outcomes. Therefore for a person of Aamir Khan's calibre to not do adequate research and malign a dedicated doctor is plain shoddy and in very poor taste. I wonder if it was his enemies/detractors who suggested he include the case of Major Rai in this episode.
It has also dealt a body blow to his programme's credibility as now with every guest, I and all others who have read the above mentioned articles and attached documents, will suspect Aamir Khan is dishing out half truths just to get high TRPs and justify his fee of Rs 3 crore per episode. Afterall he is from showbiz and therefore those tears might be, might just be, a proof of his acting prowess!!
Regards
S.M.
S.M.
No comments:
Post a Comment