It has become a tradition to
put all the blames of issues of Healthcare System on Doctors. A war like
situation is presented on all forums whenever doctors go on strike. Nobody cares
to understand the problems they are facing. A massive rhetoric is launched
against them to put a blanket on shortcomings of healthcare system. There might
be incidences of negligence or misconduct on part of a few Doctors but to put
the blame of entire malfunctioning of healthcare system on doctors is not only
unjust but also condemnable.
An important issue of healthcare system in terms of misconduct and misbehavior
of paramedical and supporting staff working in government hospitals is always
ignored. Whenever patients and their attendants complain about doctors, everyone
lashes out at Doctors but when Patients scream at brutal behavior of paramedics,
all the healthcare machinery and others focus on hushing up the matter and this
thing has turned these Paramedical and Supporting Staff including dispensers,
nurses, technicians, assistants, laboratory attendants, counter boys and
sweepers into true Lords of Hospitals.
Our people, first, need to understand operational dynamics of Government
Hospitals. Hospitals are run by three separates but interconnected bodies. First
of all there is administration run by a few Doctors on administrative posts as
Medical Superintendent, Additional Medical Superintendent and Deputy Medical
Superintendents. These guys are meant only for administration. They don’t check
patients in hospital premises. They are just responsible for implementing
Government Healthcare Policies or Instructions as given by higher authorities of
Health Department.
Second, there are practicing doctors, working in different departments according
to hospital capacity like Medicine, Surgery, Gynecology, Pediatrics, Cardiology,
Ophthalmology, and many more. These guys, either senior or junior, are the real
backbone of healthcare delivery system. Unfortunately, these guys are mostly in
the cross hairs of society despite being overwhelmed by Patients’ overload.
Third, there is paramedical staff and supporting staff working as Technicians,
Assistants, Nurses, Receptionists and Sweepers. They do have their role in
serving the patients according to their cadres but their influence in government
hospital affairs is far above their serving role. As an ordinary citizen, most
of us have experiences of visiting Government Hospitals. Me too, have visited
different Government Hospitals many times and observed a lot of issues there but
a few days back when I have to visit my hometown District Headquarter (DHQ)
Hospital Chakwal for my Eyes Checkup, a few incidences forced me to pledge to
write on this serious issue in future. Being a journalist, main focus of my
research and analysis remained International Affairs because I have done my
Masters in International Relations but that indecent and perilous experience has
forced me to steer my Articles towards such issues prevailing at our Government
Hospitals.
I was suffering from a Viral Infection of Eyes that was contagious. I was told
by my Doctor that it could be spread to other persons at your working place. For
some legal purpose I needed a medical certificate from Medical Superintendent,
so I have to visit DHQ Chakwal at that time. There were long rows of Patients on
a few counters assigned to give initial slip for checkups. I was surprised that
slips for departments having less patient load like Ophthalmology were also
being issued by same counter from where slips for overburdened departments like
Medicine and Surgery were being issued. I tried to realize the receptionists
about this issue but their response was just like as someone has hit the comb of
honeybees. Anyhow, I got slip for checkup at Ophthalmology department after a
long struggle and wait.
Then I visited Ophthalmology (Eye)Outpatient Department (OPD) of aforesaid
hospital. As I expected earlier, there was no rush at Eye OPD. A few patients
were present and on duty Doctors were checking them politely. On my turn, I got
checkup by Eye Specialist and he, too, advised me rest for seven days.
Now only a small thing was left i.e., to get my slip countersigned by Medical
Superintendent. I was thinking that it would be a petty matter but my
expectations turned wrong when I reached Administration Block to meet Medical
Superintendent (MS). On my first observation I saw a few goons talking bitterly
with patients outside MS Office. Later I came to know that these are paramedics
meant for assisting MS and solving issues of Patients. From their behavior or
misbehavior they seem to be dealing with some enemy forces. Meanwhile I observed
that a lot of paramedics are going in with their known patients and getting
their required papers signed. I did not realize those attendants at MS Office
that I am also related to News and Media. I requested them to get my slip also
signed by MS but they turned hostile and asked me to wait silently. When I tried
to realize them that with infected eyes, I can’t wait for long outside and many
paramedics are already getting documents of their known patients signed by MS,
one of the attendant went in with my slip and came back outside with message
that Madam (MS) is going for some meeting. On return, she will evaluate your
Medical Prescription.
After that, I have to wait for hours for the return of ‘Madam’ but she didn’t
come back. Whenever I, myself, and other patients tried to realize the
paramedics about our condition and sufferings, we met a brutal and hostile
response from paramedics. I guessed that they can even beat the patients if they
feel it necessary.I even tried to convince those goons that whenever a senior
officer is busy in some long visit or meeting, he or she authorizes his junior
officer for such routine small tasks but they knew only one thing that how to
thrash poor patients. After a few hours when MS didn’t return and I started
unbearable pain at my eyes, I left the hospital premises with a promise to
myself that I will expose this matter after recovery that How our Hospitals are
Hijacked by Misbehaving Male Paramedics and Administrative Position Holders.
Our Government is spending a lot of money on improving the conditions of
hospitals. Their efforts are laudable but in my opinion there should also be
some drive or campaign to improve the behavior of Paramedics. After all, they
have to deal‘ailing humanity’ but their current behavior is undesirable even for
‘healthy humanity’.