Healthcare: A right, not a privilege

Mahatma Gandhi once said, “I do not grudge the millionaire his mansion, but it is my earnest request to them, to do something to bridge the gulf that separates them from the peasants. Let them construct a bridge that would bring them closer to the poor. Let their lives bear some proportion to the lives of the poor around them.”

During the 50 years since Independence, India has seen some remarkable successes when it comes to healthcare and its delivery. Over the years, it has developed to a great extent in terms of science, technology and knowledge, and is still continuing to develop. But can we really call it development for the poor and deprived? Are the equal facilities and opportunities given to each and every member of different strata of society?

Last year, in the month of December, the world was hit by a virus commonly known as the Corona Virus or Covid-19, which was declared as a Global Pandemic. Over the months, more than 40 million people have been infected by it and more than 1 million have died.

There has been a lot of discussion around the lack of ability and capacity of our health-care system to fight this epidemic. But the impact of COVID-19 and the lockdown on the ‘business’ of health care has not been examined.

When it comes to Indian Healthcare System, a lot of privatization has been noticed in the last few decades. Healthcare services not only became a lot more expensive but also highly individualized and time-consuming as well. Obviously, with the advancements seen in the medical sector, the cost is meant to rise but the most important is the availability of healthcare for all.

The economically deprived are bound to suffer in this private health care system. And if we look at the public health care system which is majorly meant for the deprived and impoverished, errors by doctors, medical staff, and hospitals, as well as corruption in this line of work, has further destroyed the trust patients have in the public medical facilities. Owing to the disproportionate Doctor-Patient ratio, a very limited number of doctors, nurses and medical staff need to cater to a very large number of patients.

As prosperity grows in India, so does the economic and social burden of chronic non- communicable diseases. Despite an abundance of quality and domestically produced generic medicines, very few drugs are readily available to the poor, mainly because of a lack of primary healthcare delivery and its implementation.

With already limited access to healthcare, poverty and discrimination increase the chances of contracting an illness. Living in dangerous conditions without proper sanitation and shelter, and with the non-availability of clean food and water, diseases are bound to hit.

Despite having the laws that predict imprisonment, recovery of compensation from perpetrators for loss or damage to Medical professionals and property, states are still lacking in its effective implementation.

But with the steady disintegration of the society over the last century, the most important thing is to Bridge the Gap and provide effective solutions to all the families in need, especially in these unprecedented times.

When it comes to such social issues, blaming the government and the authorities becomes very convenient for the public. Another rather effective alternative can be Social workers forming effective strategies and plans to improve our healthcare system.

A term called Healthcare Social Work has gained quite an audience in the past years. The main goal of a Health care social worker is to have the deprived achieve and maintain a state of optimal health so they can function well in their daily lives.

In general, it is very important to make the patients aware of what their rights are, most of which are not known due to lack of knowledge and awareness. Being treated with equal respect and dignity and the provision of healthcare that is free of abuse and exploitation is critically needed.

Here are some suggestions to improve the quality of health care for social workers:

1. Pregnant women should receive the right care at the right time. Antenatal care offers an opportunity for health workers to provide a range of support and information to pregnant women, including healthy lifestyle and family planning.
2. Newborns should recover essential care immediately after birth. Making new mothers aware of proper care and health plays a vital role in the health of a newborn.
3. Providing proper sanitation, hygiene and waste disposal facilities which are reliable and safe. Provision of clean food and water is highly necessary. Social Health Services can take care of providing such quality service.
4. Another thing social workers can help with is to provide vaccinations against diseases. Vaccination helps to prevent the spread of diseases to a great extent especially when a lot of people live in a very small establishment.
5. Create awareness amongst women about Menstrual Health. Even now there are millions of girls who are unaware of the term menstrual health. With the myths associated with it, it becomes highly important to make them know about their own body and how they can prevent illness in the future.

Working for a huge community, it is important to measure the impact of any changes made. Measures should be clear and specific so that the same information can be collected before and after each change. We also need to decide how to present our data and how to share it. Consider sharing it publicly to get buy-in from the whole community.

Also, patient engagement is the need of the hour. Patients can be the best judges of their own health which is why they have to be taught to be pro-active healthcare procurers. This is definitely not an easy task but it is a primary task which must be worked upon by the social workers.

Of course, achieving such goals is quite a big challenge but hey, nothing is impossible. Each one of us has the opportunity to change and grow until our very last breath because if you stop growing, you remain stagnant and stuck. And let’s not forget what Darwin once said, “It is not the strongest or the most intelligent who will survive but those who can best manage change.”

Let’s hope for a future with equality, mutual respect and a change and do what we can do to make our way towards our joint dream “Quality healthcare for all”.