Atom bomb - Making free healthcare a reality

Most people want doctors to treat them for free, so that they won’t have to pay any money. The conventional thought among people is that healthcare should be free of cost. Yet, it doesn’t happen, for several reasons. Almost every doctor I personally regard, doesn’t believe in it. Still, if you want healthcare to be completely free, then here’s just one thing which you would have to do:

Start your own hospital and openly proclaim that everything will be free. All consultations. All surgeries. All tests. All medicines. Absolutely free of cost to the patient. 

Because you want free healthcare, na? So, do it yourself. Open up your own hospital. Purchase adequate land and construct it legally. Buy all the machines. Hire highly competent doctors on stupendous salary packages. Assure them they won’t have any work pressure, and that working for you will be like a dream come true. 

Think you can’t start your own hospital because you’re not a doctor? Well, let me tell you, that:

• The duo who started Fortis are not doctors. 
• The guy who started Max is not a doctor. 

These two are among the top Indian hospital chains. You go beyond them and make such an awesome brand that people will forget all others. So excellent that yours will be the de facto standard. 

The power of thinking big

Plan something world-class. Whatever is your perception of an ideal hospital, visualise that and make it happen. Build something so great that all those patients who negatively stereotype doctors, will come only to your hospital. Yours will be the preferred choice of everyone who thinks that doctors shouldn’t charge any fees from their patients. 

May you rock the world 

I would really want your hospital to succeed. May you have so many patients that your doctors will find it hard to handle. Then, how will you manage the workload? It’s simple. By recruiting more doctors. In fact, you can hire MBBS graduates, who vastly outnumber the amount of super specialists. Just visit medical colleges and do campus hiring. Give medical students a job offer while they’re still studying. That way they would settle down in 20’s, like some of their engineering counterparts. Further, it’ll reduce pressure on students to clear NEET and other PG exams. In any case, most aren’t able to clear them due to which they move to other fields like IT or Pharma. That way, if another pandemic-like situation comes, then there won’t be a shortage of qualified doctors in the market. 

Let people realise your greatness

Along with hiring undergraduate doctors, also spend money on a viral marketing campaign. Convince people that for most basic cases, it’s absolutely fine to get themselves treated from an MBBS doctor, instead of going for super specialists. Tell them that if they don’t have any problem using software made by a college dropout, why can’t they get themselves treated by a legit medical professional, who’s cured actual patients during their course of education? Make people realise that an MBBS doctor has a lot of clinical skill, not necessarily less than those who have cleared PG exams. Also, make them realise that some students don’t go for PG, because they can’t afford the options they’re getting. 

Stepping stones for success

Your next step will be to hire other staff for your hospital. This will consist of the usual ones such as nurses, compounders, receptionists etc. but that will not be all. You’ll hire some more type of people which others don’t hire. 

The first type will a person who’ll meet every patient after check up, asking them not to devalue the prescription, just because they’ve got it for free. Every doctor I’ve met, has faced this issue where people don’t value the consultation if it’s given to them free of cost. So what if those doctors failed? You hire special staff to make yourself succeed. Better still, you do that yourself. After all, you only wanted healthcare to be free, so you know better why people should value it. 

In addition to that, two more types of staff members will be required. One shall be those who will explain to patients that a doctor tries their best and it’s not their fault if a patient doesn’t recover despite all efforts. The second type will be bouncers, to flex their muscles, in case a patient argues with the doctor using random diagnosis taken from the Internet.

Completely forego any chance of profits

And now, coming to the medicines part. If you are one of those who considers profit a bad word for Pharma companies, then do this. Put up a sign board outside your hospital saying that medical representatives won’t be allowed. Have your own pharmacy giving generic medicines. All your doctors will prescribe their medicines only. In case a patient develops reaction to generic medicines of a certain brand, then it’ll be your fault and not that of the doctor. Because you only had set that rule. 

The best a patient can get

Due to free medicines, there can be chances of leakage. To prevent that, please make sure to invest in software. Have everything digitised, including prescriptions, pharmacy, inventory, CSSD, etc. 

A complete software-enabled setup will also result in a good patient experience. A common complaint among low-cost hospitals is too much of crowding and waiting times. But that shouldn’t concern you, because you’ll be doing something far-far better. Implement software to enable your patients to book appointment from home and come only when their turn is near. No one will have to sit inside for hours, while waiting for their turn. The overall experience should be such that if any patient wants an appointment then they’ll get it instantly, without having to wait for days or weeks. There’ll also be free pickup & drop facility along with valet parking, to ensure overall customer delight. Patients will actually look forward to visiting your hospital, instead of dreading. 

Everyone will be happy

In fact, make sure there is absolutely no complaint from the customer. So, all the floors should be clean, staff should be well behaved, cafeteria should serve delicious food, and infrastructure should be upgraded every few years. 

Also, your employee retention levels should be high. Doesn’t matter what’s the market situation, you will have to give them regular increments. If you’ve ever wondered why 15% of all doctors in USA are Indians, then here’s your chance to reverse the trend. Give your doctors an absolutely relaxed work environment and a very high pay. Also, give them annual paid vacations with family and the latest electronic gadgets. Offer so many benefits that whichsoever doctor works with you, will be so satisfied that they won’t ever think of working anywhere else.

Bring a revolution 

On the matter of complete satisfaction, you can do one more thing which will bring a revolution. In case a patient dies in the hospital, then their family members will be given money, as a compensation. That money will be deducted from your pocket, not that of the doctor. This will encourage doctors to work for you and also more patients will come visiting. Along with that, your home address and personal mobile number will be prominently displayed on the reception area. This is in case a patient dies accidentally and their family members want to know, whom to vent out their anger on. 

Last but not the least

Above all, make sure that the money you’re using to give free treatment, doesn’t have any source of dubious earnings. It shouldn’t be an indirect mean to change someone’s religious or political beliefs. It should not be a way to convert any black money into white. It should not be a means to cover up for someone’s past misdeeds. 

Earn your money the hard way, and use that to do something that will solve the healthcare problems forever. 

A beautiful doctor, who deserves to be cherished

Sitting in a PPE kit, she’s fully wrapped from top to bottom. With a double mask and a face shield. It’s very hot, the AC’s have been turned off, and she’s continually working non-stop for hours. 

People on her Facebook page don’t see her like this. They see her vacationing, enjoying good food, playing around with pets, celebrating birthdays of her family members. Some perhaps don’t even know that she’s a doctor. 

Before entering into the medical profession, she had aspirations, like several people of her age. She wanted to get married some day. She liked to dress up. Her favourite Pani Puri was the one served at a roadside stall. She was excited when her dad gifted her an MP3 player on 16th birthday. 

Being a Doctor is her profession. At a personal level, she’s not very different from you and me. 

She too wants to live a good life. 

She too wants to relax after a tiring day. 

She has immense affection for people who matter. 

She feels good every time money is credited into her account. 

For others, she’s just another doctor. For me, she means the world. 

I pray that whenever she gets a patient, then that person:

• Treats her with utmost respect. 
• Follows every bit of her prescription. 
• Behaves very well and talks nicely. 
• Pays whatever money she asks for. 
• Mentions the positive outcome of her treatment. 
• Understands that she’ll always try her best for the patient’s betterment. 
• Is a delight to deal with. 

From the outside, she’s someone wearing a lab coat, when at work. 

From the inside, she’s a person, who deserves to be cherished. 

You deserve more than what you think

At their 40th college reunion , an aged man walked up to an old lady. He told that he liked her, but could never muster the courage to confess his feelings, for fear of getting rejected. You know what the lady said? 

“Had you believed in yourself and tried a little bit more, you could have got me”. 

Somewhere, you might be able to relate to this story.

Our thoughts often hamper our progress. 

It happens to almost all of us. We remain stuck in mediocre jobs as we feel we won’t get into a better situation. We fill ourselves with unhappy thoughts, thinking that good will never happen to us. We feel that our dream will remain a mere dream, nothing more than that. 

You know why this happens?

Because we undervalue ourselves, and therefore, don’t live the life we could have lived. The cost of this can be as high as living an unfulfilling life, full of regrets. And if you want then this can change. 

The real change starts with you. 

Think of all that you want in life. Make a list of the best things that you like. Remove the thought that you won’t get them. Just make a start and then think, what will you have to do in order to get them? 

If you don’t try to get something, you’ll not get it (unless someone else is too kind to you). And if try for something with all your might, then sooner or later, you’ll get it. 

When everything else fails in life, it is hope that keeps us going. Even in the worst of times, never give up on hope. 

The Sea of Tranquility, by Arjun Suri

A day in the life of a doctor’s son

By the time I wake up, dad has already left for his clinic. He has several patients waiting for their turn. 

I remain at home. Time passes by. I am in the middle of my regular activities when someone calls me. Their family member got some disease (likely Corona) and wanted to talk to dad for second opinion. I reply that he’s in OPD and so busy that he cannot take calls. I tell them that if not urgent then I’ll make you talk to him when he’s home, meanwhile please send all reports. 

I go back to what I was doing, and then I receive message from an acquaintance regarding a doctor dying while saving people from covid. I can only be positive about my own home. Dad is 68+, yet he goes to treat so many patients each day. He sits in a PPE with the tightest mask available, so tight that even breathing becomes difficult after some time. For many hours he listens to patients and also talks a lot while explaining things. He only knows where he gets the energy to carry on. 

His designated hours are till 1:30 PM, yet he keeps seeing patients, at times beyond 4 PM. Every patient deserves a certain amount of time, for a fair treatment. Most patients come with a negative mindset and share their shenanigans with him. He listens to what they say, so that it’ll make them feel better. 

Finally he comes home, for a late lunch. Then he changes and takes a bath. Tries his best to keep things clean. Though he had a tough day, never tells anyone about it. Is totally calm and not in a complaining mode. Quietly eats his meals, when a patient calls on landline. He tells the patient that your wife has covid, he’ll message which medicines are to be taken for next few days, and don’t worry he’ll try that she doesn’t have to go to the hospital. After the call gets over, he continues with his meal. 

If there is evening curfew then he stays at home to do things that enhance his knowledge. He’s been keeping himself updated on covid, as new findings emerge and other doctors share their experiences. I can’t keep count of how many people he’s cured from the virus. Not just Jalandhar, also in other cities including metros. Some of my friends now trust his word, even though there are many other competent people around them. 

If there’s no night curfew then he goes to clinic again and works beyond his designated time. 

It’s 7:40 PM and I call my friend who used to live in Delhi. He tells me about his relative who paid ₹50,000 to someone there for a complete course via telephone, which included medicines and one call a day. I really wonder, how much money could dad have made if he did what a few others did? The house we live in, he had to take a bank loan for the same. So many sacrifices he did for the family, but never boasts about it. He’s earned lesser money than so many others. What he’s earned more is goodwill and heartfelt respect.

It’s due to people like him, that some people tell me that humanity is still alive. 

Streets of Hemingway by Arjun Suri

A very short thought-provoking story

 “A boy’s mother died due to cancer.”

That’s it. That’s the story. 

Now, I’ll ask you a few questions. 

• What is the political inclination of that boy?
• What is the religion practiced by them?
• What is their caste?
• How rich or poor they are?

Every day I see people fighting with each other on things such as politics, religion and what not. They don’t get together to solve problems. Is there anyone who can’t be affected by cancer? Someone is living a normal life, suddenly they get cancer and boom, everything gets over. 

Why can’t we get together to devise a permanent cure for unwanted things like cancer? Instead of solving such problems, we are busy fighting with each other. We don’t realise that there are many problems still to be solved by humanity, and we won’t do that if we keep wasting our time on hate. 

Many years ago I stopped being a regular user of social media because people there would spend time talking about disliking someone. I cannot handle that much negativity, so I distanced myself. There are some WhatsApp groups which I’ve kept on mute and stopped conversing with few people who’d talk non-stop about problems, instead of creating the solution themselves. 

• We haven’t solved the problem of people dying prematurely due to cancer. 
• We haven’t solved the issue of depleting water table. 
• We haven’t reduced air pollution. 
• We haven’t figured out ways to recycle things properly, especially plastic. 
• Above all we haven’t made crime zero on earth. We think a messiah will come and solve these problems forever.

That won’t happen, until we realise that change has to come from within us. 

And that change will not occur , till we stop finding faults in others, and start working towards a better future. 

A Solitary Pursuit, by Arjun Suri