Relevance : GS Paper II
Why has this issue cropped up?
Recently, an attack on a doctor in Kolkata has led to agitation by medical professionals.
Deepening of social divide
There are clear factors that are deepening the social divide. Chief among these are
- neglect of the public health sector,
- unaffordable treatments
- vacancies in public hospitals,
- high cost of medical education
Way forward
- we must understand that doctors and patients do not have an antagonistic relationship
- should not take a hard line against the agitating doctors
- The IMA should institute better systems to counsel patients
- National Health Policy must
- scale up infrastructure and the capabilities of government hospitals,
- provide financial protection for treatment in expensive private hospitals.
