Detour Ahead

         

DETOUR AHEAD……

WITH MORNING CHAI KI CHUSKI….FROM THE HEART OF A PROUD FAMILY PHYSICIAN

 

WHILE GOING THROUGH NEWSPAPERS TODAY MORNING,I READ

REPORTS ABOUT INCREASING INCIDENCE OF CARDIAC AND OTHER LIFESTYLE DISEASE

POST COVID. SURPRISINGLY BUT OBVIOUSLY ALL THE QUOTES WERE FROM SUPERSPECIALIST

OR SPECIALIST. NONE FROM THE PRIMARY CARE PHYSICIAN!

 

WHILE WE TALK ABOUT THE RISING INCIDENCE OF LIFESTYLE DISEASES,

VIRAL FEVERS, POST COVID ISSUES, PREPAREDNESS FOR FUTURE VIRAL OUT BREAKS ETC,

IT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO TALK ABOUT PREVENTION, PROPER LIFESTYLE, AND ALONG WITH ALL

THE ROBUST AND EFFICIENT PRIMARY CARE IN THE COUNTRY.

 

IN A COUNTRY LIKE THIS INDIA, THERE IS A DIRE NEED TO

STRENGTHEN AND IMPROVE PRIMARY CARE AND HAVE MORE NUMBER OF GOOD QUALIFIED

PRIMARY CARE FAMILY PHYSICIANS.

 

WE HAVE GOT 2 SITUATIONS, IN THE VILLAGE THERE IS LESS

AVAILABILITY AND QUALITY STILL REMAIN A CONCERN WHERE IT IS AVAILABLE

 

AND IN METROS, TIRE 2 AND 3 CITIES, THERE IS A PROBLEM OF

ABDUNCE. FAMILY PHYSICIANS ARE AVAILABLE BUT THERE IS A DANGEROUS TREND OF VISITING SPECIALITY DIRECTLY.

 

IN SOME BRANCHES LIKE PEDIATRICS, GYNECOLOGY VISITING

FAMILY PHYSICIAN IS SIMPLY OUT OF PRACTICE. IN OTHER SPECIALITIES ALSO PEOPLE

TEND TO VISIT SUPERSPECILIATY FOR SIMPLE REASONS LIKE HYPERTENSION, OR DIABETES.

 

TRIVIAL COMPLAINTS LIKE HEADACHE, ACIDITY ETC WITHOUT EVEN CONSULTING PRIMARY

CARE PHYSICIAN.

 

DOES THIS MEAN THAT WE DO NOT NEED SPECIALISTS OR SUPER

SPECIALITY HOSPITALS? THE ANSWER IS OBVIOUSLY NO. WE NEED ALL. IN THIS EVER CHANGING FIELD OF MEDICINE, WITH NEW THREATS COMING REGULARLY WE NEED WELL EQUIPPED CENTER TO DEAL WITH THEM EFFECTIVELY AND FOR MANY COMPLEX DISEASES THEY

ALL ARE ESSENTIAL.

 

BUT NEED TO STRIKE A BALANCE. BASIC AILMENTS AND MOST OF

THE LIFESTYLE DISEASE PREVENTION AND LESS COMPLEX DISEASE MANAGEMENT BY

PRIMARY CARE PHYSICIAN AND REFERENCE AS PER NEED.

 

WHY THIS HAS HAPPENED?

 

GENERAL REASONS

·        HIGHLY DEMANDING SOCIETY, EVERYONE WANTS

QUICK FIX, FAST SOLUTIONS, NO PATIENCE…. ·        

·         INCREASE AFFORDABILITY IN MAJOR CITIES      

·         EASY AVAILABILITY OF SPECIALISTS AND SUPER

SPECIALITY HOSPITALS·        

·         PRESSURE TO PERFORM…FAST LIFE STYLE..NO TIME FOR ILLNESS

·         INSURANCE COMPANIES ONLY COVER IN-PATIENT TREATMENT AND HOSPITAL-BASED TREATMENT IN MOST THE CASES AND NO PRIOR REFERENCE BY FAMILY PHYSICIAN IS ASKED.

 

AND MANY MORE……..

SOME BLAME ON US ALSO

·      SOME FAILURE TO ADAPT TO CHANGES IN HEALTHCARE·        

·         GETTING MORE EQUIPPED AND ADAPTING TECHNOLOGY ·        

·         NO NEW DOCTORS ARE JOINING THE FAMILY PRACTICE

BECAUSE LESS REWARDING BRANCH

 

THIS IS A TIME FOR INTROSPECTION BY ALL STAKEHOLDERS.

 

FOR A HEALTHY SOCIETY, QUALITY CARE AND HEALTHCARE FOR ALL AND YET AFFORDABLE, PRIMARY CARE MUST BE PROMOTED AND STEPS  ARE REQUIRED FOR THIS BY ALL.

 

THANKS FOR READING.