Treatment – a thriving industry

Treatment is in no way a social service activity as is considered by many and propagated by the governments. It is purely an industry, fast growing industry, faster than any other. Perhaps no other business is making profits in proportion to this one.  And this business is growing on what?  Chiefly on our ignorance of health. Nobody, not even the governments are taking interest in eradication of this ignorance from the public as these are taking in promoting this industry. Nobody, without exception, wants to avail the services of this industry, yet this is the only industry making maximum profits under the banner of ‘health care industry’. Why and how? Because we are not health educated and health trained. And to be treatment conscious is the compulsion of every one of us.

Starting from quacks to qualified doctors, specialists, nursing homes and big hospitals, all are making hay. Just see your local newspaper of the day and you will see how true it is. Even the big industrial houses are turning towards hospital industry. Pharmaceutical houses are the best earners. It would be perfectly right to say that this industry will never see the economic recession or slowdown.

The condition of the general public remains the same by and large. If they save doctors’ fees in government hospital, they are not spared by the pharmaceutical companies as the medicines are purchased from the market. We all know how big pharmaceutical companies bribe the doctors of government hospitals just to prescribe their brands. Price matters not to the patient or rather he has no choice as he wants the best treatment and because doctor is next to God, we know, whatever he prescribes is final and binding.

This is the most lucrative business of today. And it would not be surprising if we listen of four star or five star hospitals in near future.

We bargain when we purchase anything from a needle to an aeroplane, quotations are invited from different competitors, written guarantees and agreements are signed, credits sought, payments deferred. Even we involve in litigations if conditions are not fulfilled. But this is the only industry (treatment industry) where no bargaining can be done or quotations invited, payments delayed or credits expected or guarantees sought from quacks to big hospitals. Then, why will this industry not flourish?

If you can’t believe that this industry is surviving and growing mainly on the health-illiteracy and treatment-compulsions of the public, then answer this question honestly, “If choice is left to you, how many times in your life would you like to be in a hospital for treatment or visit a doctor for prescription?” From heart nobody wants the services of this industry even as a luxury whereas all are utilising these as a necessity all the time.

And we all know that when it comes to treatment, the hospitals ask for depositing, sometimes lakhs of rupees even before the patient is admitted. Further, the relatives request the doctor handfoldedly not to worry on account of money. Still we listen daily that in spite of spending huge-huge amounts and even be ready to spend more, doctor says, “We are trying our best, you pray to God. It is in His Hands now.”

But when it comes to real health education, real health literacy, real health knowledge and real health practical training, which will give you everlasting health, either we don’t have time or we think that we don’t need it or we take it granted that it should be free of cost. And this is the only reason of our diseases and sufferings. So, literally we only are to be blamed for our health problems, diseases and sufferings and none else, for sure.