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.
Politics is actually a good word. Years ago I wondered, why did politics exist and why did god create it? I have now realised that politics is wonderful. It is a gift that keeps on giving. In fact you can make tremendous progress in life, due to politics.
Here’s how.
It improves productivity
When I first opened my Facebook account in 2006, it was a different platform. People came there to enjoy, to poke, to connect with friends and post on their walls. Now, the scenario is different. Some people go to Facebook to prove that they are superior to others, just because of their political views. It is this party versus that party. I don’t see people talking about lesser known innovators and how to make the earth sustainable. Instead, I see negative posts regarding a political party they don’t adhere to. As a result I’ve substantially decreased my time on social media, and am using it more productively elsewhere. Try it if you haven’t, make yourself allergic to politics and experience the positive difference in your life.
It elevates your level
They say you’re the sum of 5 people you talk the most to. So if people around you are discussing politics all the time, so will you. It’s fine for someone to talk about it, if they want to enter politics themselves. What about the rest? I don’t think anyone achieves self actualisation, just by discussing politics most of the time. I mean, how will it help if you’re frustrated with your own life and instead of improving the situation, you talk about a person you do not like? I am not against having political views, just that they are like sugar, beyond a point they can cause diabetes and other problems. So, if you don’t want to be surrounded by those discussing politics, then what do you do? Surround yourself with people who talk about research and wonderful things they’ve done at work. Surround yourself with winners and achievers. Surround yourself with positive thinkers who look at a problem as an opportunity to solve. Do this consistently and you’ll realise that while you’ve moved ahead, your once good friends are still discussing the same old things.
It saves earth
We don’t need politicians as much as they need us. No politician I’ve heard of can solve the problem of depleting water table with their own hands. Neither can anyone solve problems of non-recyclable waste, devise cleaner alternatives to fuels , make metropolitan cities sustainable, decrease global warming, etc. It’s people like you and me who can do it. Every minute you talk about politicians, you lose the power to make the earth better with your creativity. Mr Seechewal could make a rivulet clean by his sheer will and hard work. Mr Manjhi could break a mountain and reduce commuting times for people. Mr Sivan and his team have been making people proud with their innovations. I don’t know what’s their political alignment, what I do know is that these are the people we all need to exist on earth. I don’t think they could have done what they did, by discussing politics all the time.
It makes things possible
Always remember, politicians exist because we give too much importance to them. And not enough to innovators and problem solvers. Around 1983 Steve Jobs talked about making a computer the size of a book, where applications would be made available without any wires. Some people at that time thought he was a lunatic. Less than 30 years later, his team made the iPad. Likewise so many things have happened which were termed impossible. Can’t we have a world without borders, where no one fears death and everyone lives together in harmony with nature? Can’t we have a planet where no one dies early and people remain satisfied all the time? Can’t we stop hurting people and instead use that time to care for them? Maybe it’s we people only who’re not convinced that all the good things, which seem impossible today, can actually happen in the future.
It makes life worth living
Once you stop discussing politics, you’ll realise there’s a lot of goodness which you hadn’t noticed before. The beauty of nature in each and every creation. The fact that human body itself is a magnificent creation whose architecture surpasses anything we could have ever imagined. That there is something far beyond what we’ll ever experience in this lifetime. For all we talk about life on earth, it is just a tiny speck when seen from other galaxies. When seen in current solar system, it seems more beautiful than any other planet, will it always remain this way?
It is need of the hour
Think on these things. With rising temperature, depleting ozone layer, and reduction in natural resources - for how long will the human race survive? Will we ever be able to live in peace with each other? Nature gave us so much, did we ever appreciate it enough? The fact that politicians exist, it means failure of humanity. If we lived together in harmony, we won’t need anyone to rule us. We won’t need police if there is no crime. Defence budget will be zero, if countries decided not to fight with each other. There can be enough food for everyone, if there is no wastage. Everyone can have access to basic education, healthcare and Internet; only if we the people decide to make it happen. And that will not happen, if we spend most of our time discussing politics, instead of trying to solve the problems around us.
It might sound odd to non medicos, that I’m requesting Indian doctors to charge more. The general perception among public is that Healthcare should ideally be low cost to people and affordable for poor. When compared to developed countries like USA, many feel India has this positive aspect of cheaper healthcare.
Yet I request Indian doctors to follow the American model and hike their fees. If you're charging ₹300 then charge ₹3000. Make it 10 times over night, or even more. It's absolutely not against the law to do that.
Believe me, if that happens then India will scale much greater heights than ever.
Here's why.
Patients’ behaviour will improve
If you're a doctor then some patients will ask “why are you charging money?”. Even if you’re charging as low as ₹200 (less than USD 3) per visit. They won't ask about the electricity and water bills that you have to pay. They won't ask you about rental expenses. They won't ask you about staff who demand salaries on time and a hike every year. They won't ask about inflation. They won't ask about hardware companies selling devices at profitable rates. They won't ask how much money your parents spent on your education. They won’t ask you about family members aspiring to have a lifestyle at par with their peers. They will simply ask why isn't their doctor treating them for free. Because the fees is so low people take it for granted. On the contrary, people don’t ask expensive brands like Mercedes and BMW to give free things. They happily pay what is asked and feel proud doing so. Hence, charge such a high amount that people won’t bother asking for freebies.
It'll reduce vicious cycle of commission
Some humans in medical profession (not all) prescribe medicines from selected brands based on "targets". Some humans in medical profession prescribe more number of tests to patients so that they'll get referral amount. Why? Because they're earning less from their regular income. They’re unable to hike their rates, for several reasons. So let them earn so much from their regular income that they won't retort to these external things. Let people take only those medicines and tests which are essential.
Improve health of a patient
Because it’ll be expensive, patients will try to come fewer times to a doctor and will take better care of their health. That way they'll take each prescription and advise more seriously. Same way people let scratches happen on cheap Nokia phones and take utmost care of their expensive iPhones.
Lesser brain drain
I have seen people in USA buying things like house with botanical garden area and private jets, which their Indian counterparts can't imagine. If Indian doctors earned this much amount here, then neither will they go abroad to practice nor will our rich people go overseas for treatment.
Happier youth
These days, people of young age like going to restaurants with plush interiors. They don’t care as much about basic raw material or savings - they just want good ambience. So that they can click selfies and upload on social media. Going to cheaper places doesn’t appear cool. This is a stark contrast from my parents generation, for whom eating out meant a place serving fresh meals. They didn’t care much about interiors. Not judging anyone, the current urban Indian youth wants good interiors. They’re willing to spend ₹1000 for a plate of golgappas in a 5 star hotel, even if they get the same thing elsewhere for cheap. Hence doctors should do the same. Make their hospitals a 5 star selfie spot. Youth will look forward to coming there and clicking selfies. For that, doctors should increase their fees exponentially.
Happier doctors
Most of our society looks down upon doctors who spend money on themselves. They don’t expect them to buy a Mercedes or take vacations abroad. This has a toll on some doctors as they can’t publicly display the results of their hard earned money. Hence, if it became acceptable that doctors are meant to make money, then they won’t be judged. Then every doctor will be able to freely display their wealth and also security systems at home. In fact, the more society tries to suppress a doctor from displaying their wealth, more they’ll want to show it. So give them the freedom to do it.
Relaxed doctors
These days, it’s a matter of stress for doctors, when a patient does self diagnosis on the Internet. The patient reads some random articles via Google and then argues with prescription given by doctor. The patient feels his few minutes of random research is more insightful than several years of experience held by the doctor. Some patients also come for time pass, whereas they should be coming only if they seriously need a check up. Because the doctor charges very low, patients take it for granted. If instead of ₹200, a doctor was charging ₹20,000, then the patient would have dared not argue. They would have thought that the doctor is charging so much, so they must be right.
More number of doctors
Experienced doctors are flooded with a lot more patients than newer ones. One reason is they continue charging much less then younger ones. If they charge more, then others will get a chance as well. So there will be more number of doctors graduating and it'll be a level playing field for new entrants as well. Instead of engineering, parents will force their kids to take up medical. Then even the fresh graduates will have a chance of finding clients, due to less rates, just like software engineers.
More time for family
As each doctor will have similar number of patients due to standard deviation, their working hours will reduce. So, they'll be able to devote that time to their family. This will boost the economy as they’ll get time for shopping, eating out, buying luxury goods, etc.
Just another profession
It’s time people realised that doctor is a profession, they are not gods. I do not know a single doctor who calls herself /himself as god. Just as how a cricketer gets out on zero, same way a doctor too makes unintentional mistakes. If people realised that a doctor is here to earn money and try their best, then they won’t break hospital windows after death of a patient. Because for someone who is not a god, the outcome is not in their hands.
It will improve things
People will start driving safely on road, fearing high cost of treatment. Parents will force kids to spend less time on mobiles, as they won’t be able to afford eye care. Like in Singapore the treatment is so expensive, people make efforts not to fall sick. People who will feel “why deprive the poor of affordable healthcare?” will have to start improving levels for their upliftment. It’s not the responsibility of doctors to end poverty, isn’t it? We may finally see cancer getting eradicated, thanks to investment in research (I pray no one goes through cancer). And we may see the end of inventing diseases, just so that people will buy their antidote. Because such companies will know that people won’t be able to buy en masse. After all such disease inventors are also humans with feelings for others. We may see people’s bodies getting stronger due to taking less medicines, and getting back to ways of holistic health.
Because cheaper doesn’t always mean it’s better. If only we could value the importance of having a human body.
Above article in video format:
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