Discount in professionalism

Thiyam Gambhir *

I am a poor person financially, educationally, socially and above all culturally that today I become a resistant force in this deviated society that force me to revolt against the unsocial and inhuman changes.

To be very precise and in order to save some valuable time of the reader/s I will deliberate myself to put only the backbone of the story.

In due course of time, I had once visited one of a reputed hospital in Imphal, where I have experienced a surprising unethical, unvalued business which was out of the box of health sector industry. Professionally becoming unprofessional is the most dreaded disease in this civilized world. Being from the patient side the first and the foremost belief is that the Hospital is the temple which will not only cure the suffering of the patient but also will brings positive hope to the dying family and cherish the live with happiness.

Entirely on the opposite side, as soon as the patient was admitted the doctor who was partially busy unfolding the tasty sunflower seeds wrote in a script quite similar with the one found in the aged of Harappan civilization. Just as I rushed out from the OPD I was manhandled by group of thugs similar to the one I saw in SHOLAY movie during my early age. I asked them with my legs shaking and voice stammered "Is.... anything.... wrong...."?

A plain reply came from an unprofessionally professional person that the prescription written will only be available in his pharmacy shop. Dame!!! Do I look so stupid? I thought and look myself as much as my eyes can bend. I told him that I will get it from the nearest one since its urgent.... Again the man replied if it's urgent then I should waste no time and get it from him. Being on the edge of my luck I agreed hesitantly and walked about 20 min to the east of the Hospital and as soon as we reached the man took the prescription and scratched his head which I still remember that he badly needs a shower with the best shampoo in the world.

Before I left after taking the medicine the man challenged me that if I can find those from other pharmacy shops he will give me for free of cost. Shocked and surprised I immediately rushed to the doctor and gave the medicines, I asked one of the Nurses to kindly help me for immediate attention. I presumed I was not mad requesting like that, but , as if I demanded her kidneys she looked at me angrily and replied that there are 100s of patient lying and I have to wait. That's very true, on one side that's a professional reply and it become too professional at that moment that it become completely unprofessional to the listener especially when my heart is full of sentiment which over power my conscience.

Without loosing any time, I rushed toward the patient still with the hope that the GOD will be back. Then after an hour, I saw the GOD coming with lots of Demi Gods following in the long corridor. As soon as I knew that he is coming to my direction my 6 senses came alive. But just like a newly wedded wife the pace of movement was so gentle that the call of duty became an unessential service.

Directly he came to me and asked what happened I told the medical history of the patient and requested him for suggestions. He looks into the prescription and asked me from where I took the medicines, I answered him correctly and after that he took the hand of the patient and looks to his branded watch and waited for more than 2 minutes to check the pulse. During that period I also have the chance to see that costly watch which I believe he might be very proud of that. He told me that everything is normal and wrote something to the history card and left in the same pace like he came. That's everything I wanted, at last it's the curing power of the doctors that I always admired.

Then the nurse with lots of confident substituting the place of the Roman Empire told me the Dos and don'ts in a very disrespectful stylist slang which is very indigestive not meeting the expectation of the uniform she represent.

It's a fact, no one might be happy in the Hospital but with the little knowledge I have I believed everything can be changed starting from the way the service is provided. When the Government is looking for health tourism in the state I am so sorry that before the step is implemented a deep study is required starting from the method of treatment to that of dealing with the customer / patients so that everyone is contented and the dream is realized in every aspect. It is also a matter of concern to the various private institutions providing medical degrees by means of donation without any qualitative test of the candidates at the length and breath of the country.

Since, I have a strong respect for the medical profession I would take this interest to mention that the image of being a doctor or a nurse will not be complete till one has the quality to serve the poor and the rich in an equal degree of equation. Sound very simple but practically very difficult, however, it is this litmus test that separates the very profession from others and the most important is the one who carries till the last breath. Besides, it's a question whether those who obtained the degree just merely for the sake of the status can truly meet the professional ethics and the talent of not only curing but also can represent just like a GOD for the poor people like me.