Solutions for Aamir Khan

[Guest guest]

The recent show by Aamir Khan has shown doctors in a bad light. There has

been a lot of discussion on how much of this is justified. The extent of the

rot may be debatable, but it is undeniable. However, no one has yet come up

with any concrete suggestions to remedy this situation.

Here are my two bits about this issue:

One important issue raised is the enormous amount of ‘donation’ required to

be paid for medical education. How can we remedy this matter? As I see it,

this can be tackled in two ways. Firstly, a common entrance exam for all

government as well as private medical colleges will end all manipulated

entrance exam results. This will effectively put paid to the ‘donation’

system, as all admissions will be strictly based on the scores of that one

exam.

A second way would be to increase the number of seats. Many have argued that

by increasing the seats we will be lowering the standards of doctors. Yet,

here we are in an age where medical colleges get recognition solely on

‘rented’ patients and part time hired consultants. The patronage of a

political Godfather is sufficient to garner the required stamp of approval.

It is time we loosened the tight regulations and allowed more corporate or

trust entities to open medical colleges.( I know that I should suggest that

the Government should open more colleges, but I am sure a lot of budgetary

problems will be paraded.) If on one hand we argue that there is a shortage

of doctors in India, and on the other we say that there are insufficient

patients to open more medical colleges, I think we need to revisit our

beliefs.

However, both these ways would require tremendous political will and

strength to withstand pressure from vested interests.

Another point raised was the commissions doctors were paid to refer their

patients for certain operations. The solution here is simple. If the

standards of Municipal or states run hospitals are improved, there will be

no need for patients to take refuge in shabby fly-by-night setups. It is

precisely because the government is unable to provide quality health service

that everyone rushes to private hospitals. However, this easier said than

done. The Government hospitals are riddled with bench warmers whose only aim

in life is to reach a pensionable age. Can we change the system so that

every promotion is performance based? The ideal adjunct to this would be to

do away with all reservations and get solely merit based systems. However,

with the present political compulsions, I don’t see that happening. A better

way out would be to have temporary posts of, say, two or three years. Each

post may be extended by a peer reviewed group which decides on the

efficiency of the person.

There will always be star doctors and patients will flock to them and pay

the extra money there. But then this happens with all industries. It is the

brand that counts.

I am sure all of you will have your own ideas of improving upon this. I am

waiting for your response.

Kishore Shah 1974