Medical Negligence Continues in Govt Hospitals

Health is Wealth. But oflate, the governtments are forgetting this fact.

Recently there has been a case where in a Software Engineer suffered permanent disability due to the medical negligence at the government owned hospital - NIMS, in Hyderabad,AP.
The victim suffered permanent disability in the form of paralysis and other complications, rendering him incapable of all normal chores after undergoing a surgery in Nizams Institute of Medical Sciences.

This is one of the case where it has been taken to the court till supreme court and the victim was granted the compensation of rupees 1 crore for this negligence. But how many of such cases do go to courts? and in the first place why does this happen? dont the doctors at public health institutions tend to forget the oath which they take before assuming the practice? or have they thought the citizen of india doesnt deserve to get the better health care?

Government has been spending huge amounts on health infrastructure and supplies. however, i feel the check and balance of the final result of this spending is not being considered seriously. This is one of the cases which is making the people of this country to look for the private corporate hospitals, which take away your fortune but still take care of your health.

A tax payer like me gets frustrated when i hear such kind of news. Health is the basic necessity which is to be provided by these government agencies and if they lack this basic duty then whats the use of having such a system in place?

Atleast this software engineer was strong enough to take the hospital to the courts but what about the people who are suffering daily in villages, small towns who are not educated and who do not know where to approach with their grievances? Does government has a grievance cell or body in each town for such medical negligence? I am not aware about such things if any and i dont many of us know? and if it doesnt have any, dont you think we should have such ?

Its high time that the concerns of health are taken care seriously. Life is very precious, whether its about a common man or a rich man. Life is life. and these elected representitives and the public service officers have the responsibilities to ensure that the basic amenities as mentioned in the constitution has to be provided to each and every citizen of the country, irrespective of caste, religion, status etc.

Why dont our course curriculum in schools and colleges teach us how to fight back for our rights? Why do we fear of taking our grievances to next level and get them sorted out? are we aliens in this country? Is this country not our home? if it is, then why do we fear in our home? We all know the answers. we tend to live in our own comfort zone. we believe, to just take care of the problem when it comes directly to us. we do not tend to forsee the problems ahead and dump that saying, its not my job. If Gandhi would have also thought so while fighting for independence, we would have not enjoyed the liberty and freedom which we enjoy today.

Every book should have the basic rights and responsibilities mentioned in the first page, so that our students do not forget that. Government should take initiatives like RTI to promote the knowledge about the grievance cells, governing bodies, consumer forums. Having said this, it doesnt mean that a circular is posted at the Secretariat gate. Like how it is said, Success doesnt come to you, you have to go for it, similarly, information has to flow throw a major channels. Media should play a vital role in getting these things done.

I can write hundreds of pages on this, but its useless, until we like-minded people take some care to spread the awareness about the rights and responsibilities of every citizen of India.