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Truly Indian

The other side of the grass is greener?.

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http://www.deccanherald.com/deccanherald/images/indian%20doctor.asp

Indian doctor?s frustration is justified

What awaits me here is a system that does not uphold the nobility of my profession anymore. Will I be a misfit in a system that to a large extent stifles the desire to offer self-less and honest service? In a non-conducive work environment, dwindling work ethic, a thoroughly under-remunerated career compared to other available career opportunities in the market - a system where `health? is available only to the few who can afford it? These questions have now begun to haunt me repeatedly.
I graduated from Bangalore Medical College in 2000 and began my professional odyssey as an intern in Victoria Hospital . My first job was as research Analyst in Mumbai?s Breach Candy Hospital . Then I underwent post graduate medical training in England for two years and secured membership of the Royal College of Physicians (MRCP). I am now a specialist registrar in Clinical Radiology with the Royal College of Radiologists, UK, on my way to becoming a consultant. Where next?
Currently on a holiday in Bangalore, walking down the streets, I realize that I nurture a desire to come back and work here, in the City of Bangalore which has given me so much? I think a little deeper and something seems to disturb the picture?
What awaits me here is a system that does not uphold the nobility of my profession anymore. Will I be a misfit in a system that to a large extent stifles the desire to offer self-less and honest service? A non-conducive work environment, dwindling work ethic, a thoroughly under-remunerated career compared to other available career opportunities in the market - a system where `health? is available only to the few who can afford it. These questions have now begun to haunt me repeatedly.
The health industry is seen as the biggest industry of our times, mainly due to rising medical consumerism. Indian cities can boast of mushrooming state-of-art hospitals fitted with advanced gadgets-representing segments of economic boom, but the intrinsic problems remain. One strong reason for this would be the sheer neglect of the health sector. A country achieves `first world? status not by its defence or software expertise but by its provision of health and hygiene for its people at a primary level. The Indian polity has failed to realize that no nation can be called developed if its health infrastructure is so abysmal and as neglected as ours.
The need of the hour is not a few hi-tech hospitals but good primary and secondary care facilities. Lack of safe drinking water and other basis needs, lack of any form of accident and emergency system, ECG machines and apparatus that do not work, lack of clinical governance all add up to make doctors a frustrated who do not have an MNC environment or MNC salaries?
I am trying to explore the fact that a nation that proudly proclaims that it is the fastest developing economy has failed to retain its noblest pros - the doctors. Why?
India represents the country with the maximum number of medical schools listed in the International Medical Education Directory (IMED). There are over 400 medical colleges churning over 3000 graduates each year into the open market. Over 50 per cent of them take licensing exams immediately to be able to train and practice medicine abroad. The fact is, India is losing over 60-65 per cent of its trained doctors in every batch of fresh graduates to the West. Which means, in the foreseeable future, India will not be left with enough doctors!
This exodus has been discussed before in open forums. Why do we leave? We leave because we practice evidence based medicine- well researched and internationally accepted. We work as a team not a hierarchy. There are constant learning and growth opportunities. If we are good we are respected; the pay is decent. In general, life is more comfortable and fulfilling.
Can an Indian medical graduate dream of having a lifestyle? A 25?year?old, after 5.5 years in medical school in Bangalore earns Rs 3000 per month while a compatriot in a BPO gets a starting take home of over Rs 20,000. The frustration of an Indian doctor is justified. It is a matter of national shame that each year doctors in some part of this country are driven to leave work and strike- for basic demands of better work conditions and decent pay to make their daily ends meet. The sad saga of human capital flight will continue unless the country awakens to the g ravi ty of the situation. Until such time that their homeland is ready to provide equal opportunities, the exodus will continue- in spite of the fact that the UK has closed doors to international medical graduates and U S visas for doctors remains a battle. The Indian economic boom is yet to touch the Indian healer.

Dr Kshitij Mankad,
S pecialist Registrar in Clinical Radiology,
Leeds Teaching Hospitals NH S Trust , UK

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Speech by Thomas Friedman of The New York Times....

"When we were young kids growing up in America, we were told to eat our
vegetables at dinner and not leave them. Mothers said, 'think of the
starving children in India and finish the dinner.' And now I tell my
children: 'Finish your maths homework. Think of the children in India
who would make you starve, if you don't.'"