This is an universal truth that nothing can be sliced so thin where it has not two sides. So when we ponder the frequent unfortunate events of altercation and brawls with the doctors which at times end up in physical fights where opponents freely use fists to hit each other, we draw an opinion that ‘it involved two to make a quarrel’.
I am known for voicing my ideas despite some people find them distasteful so it may sound ironical to some people that in my opinion, which is just my view not necessarily a pragmatic approach to the problem, both sides seem responsible for creating such volatile situations and nuisance, but at the same time I feel both sides not guilty and not responsible for such unpalatable events yet suffering its consequences. Actually, one is provoked from other’s arrogance and emotions ran high so both sides lose the control, as a consequence, such situations arise.
” AKH WANAAN HOMIS AA’S MENGAN METCH BARITH TE BYAKH WANAAN YAMIS AA’S MENGAN METCH BARITH”.
Lack of proper education to junior doctors in regard to behavioral attitude and absence of requisite guidance to the patients and their attendants are the causes responsible for the occurrence of such regrettable incidents. In order to prevent the recurrence of such assaults my forgoing proposition needs to be taken into account.
Being a doctor is a dignified position and he is revered for his skills and known as a learned teacher who has earned highest skills and degree to treat the ill and illnesses so he needs to be conscious of his position and obligations and should try his best to maintain his dignity and not stoop so low that he pays a mad patient or his attendant in the same coin he behaves. Doctor should have a big heart. Yes, when things are seen going out of hand then police remains the alternative and bullying can’t be tolerated at any cost. I favour that assault on doctors should be made unbailable offence but simultaneously demand that doctors too be strictly made accountable for their misadventures.
Proper education, required guidance, immediate fulfillment of genuine demands of doctors keeping their needs in consideration, good behaviour are the remedies to avert these incidents. Miscommunication too plays a role to pave way for such occurrences.
We also cannot deny this fact that the whole system of our hospitals is in doldrums. I may go as far as to say that it has fallen into coma and needs a radical treatment.
Government also is required to constitute a committee of some competent and reputed persons to investigate such occurrences so that realities are surfaced. That can help the authorities to formulate a genuine policy in this regard. Just an ordinance proposed by Doctors Union cannot serve any fruitful purpose because it is an established fact that many doctors are rude towards patients and they cannot be offered license of impunity, and the right to protest from poor patients cannot be snatched. Yes, there is dire need of introducing administrative health reforms.
Infact, Hospitals are a small part only. Our whole system has fallen across. So when ‘lava’ gets generated in the minds of people, it then manifests in many forms.
All our government hospitals in Kashmir are managed and run by doctors. They have been given the administrative control of these institutions. No one can deny that the hospitals managed and administered by doctors give good results because doctors better understand the conditions under which their fellow core workers — doctors and nurses — will function best, says a Western researcher. “If a leader creates optimal working conditions for the core workers, then that is likely to create a more efficient organization.”
But in the valley of Kashmir it has, by and large, proved counterproductive to appoint a doctor as head of a hospital, because he/she usually ‘covers’ up the ‘misdeeds’ and ’misadventures’ of his co-workers due to the inept and weak system. So whenever there were cries and clamoring against the frequent deaths which take place in the hospitals mostly because of apathetic, indifferent attitude and carelessness of doctors/paramedics it proved simply to bark up a wrong tree!
This fact is beyond any shadow of doubt that doctors’ advice plays a very important role for proper working of a hospital but their running an entire hospital is neither in the interests of hospitals nor good for the patients. The primary and important work of doctors is to treat their patients with a human heart not with a business mind.
No doubt, we have certain young doctors who have best administrative skills also, but our system prevents them to hold these higher positions and give them a chance to run the hospitals efficiently.
Just clinical skills do not make a doctor good. He should have the ability to care about the patient and should be compassionate. But what we usually observe doctors do not empathize with their patients.
Banning the private practice of some doctors too is ironical! Instead revitalizing these institutions the government made the situation worst by banning SKIMS doctors from private practice. Without taking into consideration the healthcare facilities and availability of specialists in Kashmir and graph of patients which can be gauged by the rush in hospitals, banning the private practice of doctors sounds irrelevant.
I have already discussed it in one of my write-ups that some circles endorse the decision of government in banning the doctors from private practice and say it corruption. They say these doctors are compensated by special allowance for not carrying on private practice and claim that if the private practice is allowed the doctors will force the patients to consult them privately thus the quality of service will become poor in government hospitals. They say the law must be designed to prevent a conflict of interest. This opinion does not hold water because if private practice is banned even then the doctors have been seen doing their duty with disinterest and indulging in rude behavior. Such things and situation relate to the administrative set up, and this fact is beyond any shadow of doubt that the deteriorated condition of our government hospitals and arrogance of doctors there are mainly because of mismanagement and weak administration.
Now as regards the logic in making private practice a criminal activity too resonates unreasonable. Some four years back, the Supreme Court ruled that government doctors defying the ban on private practice and charging consultation fee from patients in a clinic during spare time could neither be accused of indulging in trade nor be booked under the anti-corruption law.
People at the helm should pay the attention to make the management of the hospitals more accountable. We must know that medical mistakes cause deaths so it’s in the best interest of hospitals and people to find out where the mistakes are being made and to correct them. Publishing statistical results of hospitals can make those improvements happen. It will also help for the hospitals to gain prestige. The same should be made obligatory for private hospitals also. It has been seen that private hospitals drain the pockets of patients and play with their lives because of the unsuitable infrastructure. And may be these people too will be playing a role behind the curtain in the decision of banning the private practice of doctors?
I believe the evaluation standards can make the health care system in our state best and great. Press and electronic media have to play a vital role for it.
We too have the great doctors here. We are proud of them. Not because they are in no way less in international standards and other great doctors of the world so far their professional skills and experience are concerned, but they too are so empathetic, sympathetic and sweet towards the patients and their dedication is adorable. Agreed, just a few among them may be money minded but all are not sailing in the same boat. Generally they are sincere and not after money but religiously true to their duties and uphold the highest degree of medical ethics. For example, I quote on the basis of my personal experiences the names of Dr G. Q. Allaqaband (General Physician), Dr. Altaf (Child Specialist. A prominent writer also), Jenab Dr. Muhammad Salim Wani (Urologist, SKIMS), Dr. Altaf Shah Sahib (Gastro Entrologist, SKIMS), Dr. Nazir Ahmad Salroo (General Surgeon), Dr. Parviz Koul (Internal Medicines), Dr. Rafiq Sahib Pampori (ENT), Dr. Maqbol Sahib (ENT), Dr. Wahid Sahib (Internal Medicine. He is an accomplished writer also), Dr. Javid Malik (Chest Specialist), Dr. Gul Javid (Gastro Entrologist, SKIMS), Dr. Nazir Mushtaq Sahib (Pathologist. An excellent writer also), Dr. Sheikh Salim (Neurologist), Dr. Mustaq Margob (Psychiatrist) and so many. And I want to make here a special mention of a great son of soil, a great doctor named Jenab Sushil Razdan (Neurologist). I have never met him but I have seen everyone who is anyone in our valley talk very high of him. Late Dr. Ali Muhammad Jan was a famous doctor who attained that amount of fame as a Medico that till date no other doctor could cross that record but Mr. Sushil Razdan is a popular doctor and his record of popularity as a doctor is still unbeaten.
Jan Sahib is famous for his skills and Razdan Sahib is popular for his dedication. He did not focused on accumulation of wealth but gained the love from all people irrespective of cast, color and creed. Being in clinical practice he has left a legacy of dedication which needs to be followed, received and transmitted.
Last but not least, I would like to say that applying brains on useless topics is tantamount to pleasurable but unproductive mental activity. Those ideas stimulate or entertain the mind of some people but yield no fruitful results. Topics of less worth and value are like the circular question what came first, a hen or the egg? These things and such discussions, I suppose, will benefit us less than what the same energy and mental capabilities could yield if utilized on the problems what we face today and discourse on current issues? I hope every sane person of our valley will endorse my observation that our whole healthcare is in doldrums, as a consequence, poor people suffer badly. Health care should be affordable for everyone, especially to the poor. Let government formulate a policy and arrange a programme enabling all the citizens to contribute into the ‘health care system’ within the reasonable percentage of their income. That amount can be used to cover the medical expenditure of those people who do not have the ability to pay so that no one is left to beg for life saving treatment, or lose their home, or die because they can’t afford it. As a civilized society we have a duty to ensure that all citizens have access to the care they need to survive. It is necessary if we wish to make it a ‘great’ nation.
Nazir Jahangr is a Freelance Writer and columnist
