By: Mubashar Mashqoor Mir : With the roping in of AYUSH in the NRHM programme government is looking forward to diversify the healthcare system besides addressing the manpower deficiency in health setup. The initiative though noble in its purpose is bringing into light some basic glitches of the plan.
It is not an unknown fact that Indian population especially in the rural areas where NRHM is implemented are not well aware of the difference between different kind of health services offered at PHC and CHC level. The most common problem faced by masses is to appreciate the function of allopathic and indigenous doctors and whom to approach for what ailment.
A common Indian man living in an Indian village considers both allopathic and AYUSH doctors as the same and thus is not able to discriminate between the utility and significance of ayush and allopathy in the healthcare setup.
The thing which further worsens the scenario is the lack of appropriate awareness campaigns about the health services available at hospitals which further marrs the concept of an informed consumer in such a vital service.
The communication and regulation module which is central to the concept of integrated health services is without any doubt limping. The ISM doctors are extensively prescribing allopathic drugs and allopathic practitioners are quite bold in prescribing ayurvedic drugs too. The situation thus resulting in prescription of such drugs by doctors who are not qualified for using the same is nothing less than an untallied but serious blunder.
It has become a common practice among the ISM doctors to prescribe allopathic drugs without having appropriate knowledge about these drugs some of which may cost a patient his life besides other serious problems. It is not difficult to apprehend that these doctors who are trained in ayurveda or other indigenous medicine should be utilized for the knowledge which they acquire during their training period and their utility in the field where the hold proficiency should be explored. Their knowledge and skill about Indigenous medicines should be appropriately tapped and respected..On the other hand a strict protocol should be made by the authorities to restrict prescription of ayurvedic drugs which only an ISM doctor should have access to and visa versa.
We must realize that health care system is a vital service for every nation and playing with it in such a casual manner for any purpose whether it be for political or anything else is absolutely unethical and shameful. Functional capacity of every medical professional should be carefully earmarked taking into consideration his or her skill and knowledge and superimposing functional boundaries of different components of medical services should be constrained to avoid incompetence and chaos. Besides it would also help in improving the levels of healthcare in terms of better outcomes and patient satisfaction and would go a great deal in re building the long lost strength and trust or the so called doctor-patient relationship. Now it is on the planners and the government to plug the loopholes before they expand..!
While planners enjoy making plans sitting comfortably in their rooms and receiving pats from the politicians for safeguarding their interests, an ordinary man is still hoping to find ‘the right doctor and the right drug’…
Mubashar Mashqoor Mir
Co-Editor, Editorial Board (SYNAPSE), Govt. Medical College Jammu.
Former State President , Health Wing, NSUI(J&K).
Member, Drug Information Center,GMC Jammu.
Member ADR Monitoring Cell, GMC Jammu
Member 3rd national conference and workshop ISRPTCON.
Columnist & Freelance Writer
Thanks for sharing the info here. Keep up the good work. All the best.