Without hesitation I can suggest that the latest episode of Satyamev Jayate on 27th May 2012, was an excellent piece of research work. Simply superb episode.
Thanks Aamir for bringing to the fore yet another malaise in India.
In my opinion, each one of us will be able to relate to any or some part of the content in the episode.
For those who missed the show, I am embedding the episode:
Just two weeks ago, my wife's cousin was admitted to the renowned hospital in Chennai. My wife's aunty is a widow and the cousin was on a small wage job. Agree, he aggravated his position despite medical advises not to drink alcohol. When they took him to the hospital, as usual, a number of tests were prescribed and performed. The worst part was, even though the doctors knew that he was on last days of his life, they proceeded to put him on dialysis and the next day did a surgery to close a hole in his intestine. The next day (i.e., on 16th May) he died. He was 33 years old and leaves behind his wife and mother.
The total bill came to nearly Rs. 1.50 lakh plus. Each one of the relatives including my wife, chipped in with contributions to pay the bill and take the body out of the mortuary.
What happened in the above case is in my view unfair extraction of money in the name of dialysis and surgery. Yes, there are few good ones in the same hospital, who advised, in private, that there is no need for dialysis and surgery and that the hospital looking to make money just by creating hope of reviving his life, where there was none.
I am just wondering is there an NGO in Chennai can help this widow on this?
Coming back to Satyamev Jayate, first time in my life I learnt that there is something called 'basin tests' and 'generic drugs'. Like me, I am sure there will be so many well wishers who would have learnt about it. Why don't we all start similar thing like Rajasthan in our own states? We need more Dr. Samit Sharmas in each of the states to make medicines affordable.
It was heartening to know that in South India, especially in the states of Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh, low cost insurance is reaching the lower classes of the society for a cost less health care. I am immensely impressed with Dr. Devi Prasad Shetty and his Narayana Hrudayalaya Group and its leadership in creating this low cost insurance.
Well, I do have question though to the philanthropic partner of Satyamev Jayate viz., Reliance Foundation.
Now that you know that generic drugs can help the aam junta, why don't you start chain stores selling generic drugs all over India? Is this unthinkable? If you can't get into commercial activity, why don't you help war veterans, widows or handicapped to set up such stores??
Please correct me if I am wrong. Thanks.
