Twenty- five Seven

If health is priceless why should healthcare be free?

January 8, 2013
Yesterday I was struck by a bug that left me shivering in bed and running to the loo. For a while I was so sick that I couldn’t stop thinking the worst and was wondering how to tackle it when this morning’s headlines on p.5 of this morning’s MumbaiMirror, screamed ” Patients cough up more as docs hike consultation charges by 35%” . The hospital featured was Bombay Hospital one of Mumbai‘s leading hospitals. It seems that a doctor’s consultation fee was hiked from Rs. 1000 to Rs 1500. I was shocked to read this not because of the fee hike but because the patients who patronise this hospital find it far too expensive! And these are the very same patients who don’t mind spending on other things far more frivolous and far more expensive.

Consider this :
- A leather hand bag crafted by Ferragamo retails at Rs. 82,000/- + and still has takers.
- A hair cut can cost upto Rs 1800 and you still need a prior appointment
- A sari draper charges all of Rs 2500 and is still is very busy
- A wedding make-up artist charges all of Rs.25,000 and above and you’re lucky if he/she fits you in
These are also the very same people who
- Spend Rs.1000 for an hour of home Yoga tuition
- Fly half way round the world for a friend’s bachelor party
- Drive all the way to Borivili National Park for a glass of fruit juice
- Get the entire floor re-laid because the tiles were not exactly what they wanted
Studying medicine is not cheap. It may not run into lakhs as does an Ivy League education but it is still expensive.
- Since most colleges don’t teach much, pre-med students have to spend a lot of time and money going to classes to get past the entrance tests
- Some colleges have capitation fees
- Some medical students have to attend private tuitions if the teaching is not up to standard
- A post graduate degree is a must – seats are hard to get and sometimes expensive
- Post graduate students often work long hours at fellowships which pay them nothing or next to nothing
A medical education is time consuming
- Students have to put in the regular hours in class as well as study after class
- Students who don’t clear exams at the first shot spend several years/ attempts clearing exams
- Many students cannot afford to get married till they are in their 30’s
Besides,
- Medical students cannot refuse to check a patient
- Medical students are denied the use of gloves and masks while examining patients
- Medical students live in hostel accommodation that is uninhabitable at most times
Even after graduating, a medical doctor has to attend regular conferences, publish papers and undergo what is known as Continuing Medical Education to keep abreast of new procedures. Does any other profession have this re-validation process?
Some medical students earn less than corporate drivers or privately employed cooks.

Doctors are supposed to examine patients even in the middle of the night.

Doctors are supposed to climb up stairs to examine a patient even if they are medically unfit.

Doctors are expected to be on call even when they are on holiday or away from their work environment.

And our health is supposed to be priceless.

So why grumble when the doctor increases his fee?
Walking Dhobi Bundle

January 7, 2013

The weather is one of those topics rarely discussed in Mumbai. That is because Mumbai has a temperature that varies from hot to hotter and humid to wetter and being Bombaywallahs, this is nothing worth talking about. After all when it is hot and humid all that you can do is wipe away the sweat pouring down your head and when it is wet you just have to stay indoors or wipe yourself dry.So this morning at Yoga class, it was strange to have us discuss the weather. Our teacher actually pulled away the curtains so that the weak sun could filter in and she allowed us to lie down on our blankets rather than her cold, hard floor.

As usual everyone said that this was the coldest winter ever – and perhaps it is………I have spent the last month frantically looking for my woolens which have been laundered and kept safely for a cold day but still haven’t managed to find them. So I thought I’d try the overseas trick of layering, but for some strange reason it doesn’t seem to work over here.

Perhaps I’ll go down and scout around for the Tibetan sweater sellers but can’t seem to spot them anywhere…… till then, I’ll plug in the toaster and keep my hands warm. Or better still adopt the winter costume of the average Bombaywallah and pile on every garment that I possess so that I look like a walking dhobi bundle.
Breakfast in Matunga

January 6, 2013

Cafe Madras – situated in one of the bye lanes of leafy Matunga, Cafe Madras retains its old name and old charm. At 10 minutes to 7 there were four of us waiting to go inside and 10 minutes later there was not a seat to sit!

This delightful eatery is popular with students and families who can’t seem to get enough of their to die for idlis and dosas.

If health is priceless why should healthcare be free?

Walking Dhobi Bundle

Breakfast in Matunga