I have always observed that in India, the concept of after-sale service is poor . Nil to be frank. But before you buy the product , the salesman will sugarcoat and tell you about the product, and their “after-sale-service”. Once the product is purchased, he hardly remembers you and if your product has an issue, the showroom folks have an amnesia about the promises. You have to provide evidence(I mean the bill) of the purchase and then they may be convinced but are least bothered.
The same is the case with the hospitals nowadays. They convince and force you to undergo a surgery and make it look like a very easy process which would take 2-3 days and you would be fine in no time. They will promise you the impossible and once you are admitted you will not even see the surgeon in the first place. Getting the patient on to the operation theater is a skill these days. The idea is to get the patient admitted and once you have achieved your target, let the rest be taken care by the patient.
My mother was admitted last week for a surgery, two days prior. Vitals need to be checked, I know. But the doctors and the staff were more interested to know if we had a medical insurance than my mother’s medical history. In a highly paid special ward, for two days , cockroaches were our guests. I mean, they still are.
A few hours post the surgery when the effect of the painkillers started to wear off my mother was in immense pain, the next day morning when we met each other she couldn’t control her tears and in a silent embrace, we wept. My mother is one strong, independent woman and she possesses the power to bear a lot of pain. The pain was written all over her face, this was because a doctor chose to appear only after 24 hours of surgery to inject the painkiller. This being an ankle surgery , going to the washroom was a herculean task. With such doctors and more negligent nurses we had to bear our stay in the hospital. The number of days just keeps on increasing , when asked their reply was, ” You are under insurance, aren’t you? Why worry? ” Also medicines are prescribed based on this “insurance policy”. I fail to understand the logic behind this.
And I have met many doctors before, few humble and few extremely good at their job but extremely rude. We, engineers, are taught some basic etiquettes when we move from college to corporate, and I have come to believe that these folks need one too. They seem to have forgotten basic human interaction and courtesy. Every patient is a case study, where interns try to impress the doctor, who is the head of the pack. With everyone having a big attitude problem, carrying their emotional baggage on their face , insensitivity learned from degrees earned in foreign countries , the doctors looked sadder than a Pug’s face. Well, I thought, we were the ones who were supposed to be like that, right? We are aggrieved, in pain, paying diamonds for peanut service, tolerating fighter-cock nurses. Then why do the doctors seem so sad, I can not reckon.
The doctor tells us to ask the nurse and the nurse the doctor and at the end, the patient continues to suffer , the cockroaches and the management continue to enjoy. While I believe everyone has their own set of problems with the workplace, home, friends or peers, one must not let it affect their basic mannerism with people. I have always thought doctors are the passionate people who have the power to heal and save lives. A previous experience at the hospital and this, I have come to believe, I was wrong. Everything now has become about money and nobody wants to take the responsibility. I could have thrown my rather over -weight emotional baggage on them , fought and made a big issue out of it, but I am not raised like that and I would never do that. When limits crossed I had to get it out and here I am pouring my heart out, saving many boring but agonizing details.
While hopefully, my lady will be back home tomorrow and as I pray for her quick recovery, you tell me how best could I have handled the situation, this being a reputed private hospital, have you had a bad experience at a hospital/clinic ?
Do you think the idea of better healthcare is still a far-fetched idea and service-wise our hospitals do a shoddy job?
P.S. No offense meant whatsoever.
I can only imagine what a tough time you have been through. I suggest you tag the said hospital on this post. These guys need to be taught a lesson. Everything has become a business, be it education, healthcare, sports etc. The line is crossed when business takes over the humane aspect. A profession where a patient considers the doctor equal to or next to God has become just another money-making venture, human values be damned. I wish your mum a speedy recovery, love and hugs dear!
I am not tagging them for we have to visit them for follow ups regularly. I agree with you Kala. Everything today is more business nad less service. Humanity to docks.
Thank you so much for the wishes.
**Hugs**
Ramya Rao recently posted…En-Route Self-Acceptance
I can understand your plight..
They say doctors dont have time but in that they have forgotten everyone is human. They may be strong to ignore pain but compassion and care can help in quick recovery. I may just end up writing a blog her on this here.
How true Manisha. Many doctors are doctors by degree and less by passion. Thanks for dropping by. 🙂
Ramya Rao recently posted…The Blue Book
Take care Ramya of yourself so you can care for your Mother. Both of you are strong ladies. Yes, but put in your regret/stinker mail/post about the hospital online or to their management.
Yes, now everything seems like it runs around money and here we are trying to make our kids compassionate. But we need to keep striving on, it will take time but I will happen sooner if not latter.
All the best !
True Nilima. I really hope things change.Thank you for the wishes. 🙂
Ramya Rao recently posted…The Blue Book
Very bad to read this. I experienced negligence of hospital staff but not to this level.
Hospitals nowadays mostly are like this. That includes the doctors and the other staff.
Thanks for dropping by Ramya. 🙂
Ramya Rao recently posted…The Blue Book
It’s good that you wrote about this.Do tag the hospital concerned .It’s important that basic ettiquettes, good behaviour and humanity is not sacrificed in any service.More so in healthcare.Did you talk to the management and doctor concerned about these issues.What was the response?
Unfortunately few remember good behaviour in India .
But you were within your rights to ask for am explanation and I feel you should have expressed your issues to the doctor and management concerned.I am sure you still can do a lot to prevent such problems in the future.
Doctors and healthcare in India are a sad situation. You were right about that.
Great post.
The doctors themselves were not accommodating and rude, Amrita. So, one can’t complain when the entire hospital functions that way.
Thank you so much for dropping by.
Ramya Rao recently posted…The Blue Book
Hi Ramya- hope your mom is recovering well; big hug to you and aunty for a speedy recovery and my best wishes to get over this trauma at the soonest.
July saw me running around in a hospital in gugraon when my dad had taken ill – all I will say I was glad that my doc was a known family friend for me and he helped me out like crazy ; otherwise we would have suffered everything and more as you depicted in this blog. Big hugs gurl!! Just stay strong! Prayers and wishes
I hope your Mom gets better soon, Ramya. And I understand your pain. Been there. It is bad situation that you and you dear ones have experienced and I’m glad that you voiced out. Of course, healthcare is in a bad situation here in India and it’s a fact even if we say it’s improving. Especially in private hospitals. Hugs, dear girl.
Shalini R recently posted…Saucy Paneer
True that Shalini. I was here under the impression that only education is like that.Patients here either come out dead or partially dead because of the plundered bank balance.
Thank you so much for the wishes. <3
Ramya Rao recently posted…The Blue Book
You have raised a very valid point Ramya. It is extremely saddening to see hospitals so greedy, all they want is to bill the patients! I coudln’t trust the hospitals in Bangalore much for this reason and went to Kol for my delivery because my Dad’s a doctor and I know no one can dupe me there. I was made to do tons of tests by some doctor here and one was even for cancer while i had gone in with a simple stomach pain!!!
Tina Basu recently posted…What are you Thankful For Today? #ThankfulThursdays
They would not test one for cancer had a person really had it. I can understand how bewildering your experience must have been.
Thank you for dropping by.
Ramya Rao recently posted…The Blue Book
Hospitals in India or I must say Healthcare sector need lots of improvement. Patients need to be treated with empathy. Government hospitals are the worst. I have written 2 posts on this based on my experience- http://lifethroughmybioscope.com/hospitals-missing-hospitality/
upasna recently posted…The one who weaves magic- A day in the Life of a Blogger
True that Upasana. Thanks for sharing, will read it soon. 🙂
Ramya Rao recently posted…The Blue Book
Hospitals in India or I must say Healthcare sector need lots of improvement. Patients need to be treated with empathy. Government hospitals are the worst. I have written 2 posts on this based on my experience- http://lifethroughmybioscope.com/hospitals-missing-hospitality/
Good wishes for her quick recovery.
upasna recently posted…The one who weaves magic- A day in the Life of a Blogger
I hope aunty is doing better now Ramya.Who can understand this more than me? We all had a tough time when my dad was admitted for his treatment in Delhi. Sadly, for a good treatment also you need to know somebody big in India like everything else. If you are a normal citizen, they will make you run from here to there and you are lucky if you get a good treatment. This is the condition of private hospitals…government hospitals are worse. Hugs to you.
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You said it right,Deepa. Here everything runs on quota and influence. Sigh! When will we ever improve!
Thank you so much for the wishes. She is better than before. 🙂
**Hugs**
Ramya Rao recently posted…The Blue Book
Nice article but hospitals in India or I must say Healthcare sector need lots of improvement. Patients need to be treated with empathy. Government hospitals are the worst. I have written 2 posts on this based on my experience http://www.bluevenusplasticsurgery.com/
You have raised a very valid point Ramya. It is extremely saddening to see hospitals so greedy, all they want is to bill the patients! I coudln’t trust the hospitals in Bangalore much for this reason and went to Kol for my delivery because my Dad’s a doctor and I know no one can dupe me there. I was made to do tons of tests by some doctor here and one was even for cancer while i had gone in with a simple stomach pain!!!
http://aestheticsurgery.co.in/
I can’t possibly believe it! You’re so strong!