The great divide

It has been a stuff of the legends.

The great disparity that is shown between the lives of those living in the cosy cities and those in the rustic villages. And nothing is more prominent than the difference in the healthcare facilities. One where the private sector rules the roost and another whether the government is fighting hard against the most elementary of diseases. Let me try and evaluate this divide, afterall that is what somewhere I aim to bridge in the long run.

The rural areas of India are predominantly served by the government-run PHCs and CHCs. Yes, those dilapidated buildings with just a coat of whitewash. These centres cater to the very heart of India, the most primal needs in healthcare. Ranging from childbirth to malaria, these centres epitomise the courtsey that the government extends to the rural population. And this where the courtsey also ends. Managed by phantoms (afterall these centres are plagued by absenteeism of the doctors and the staff members), we cannot much criticize the setup. Afterall it caters to at least 60 odd percent of the population of India. But you just cant help brooding as to why it lies in its present stage. A lil consideration on the part of the government, after taking such pains to establish such a wide network, would go a long way in helping the health-related issues of india. A lil more efficient management.

Contrary to this, see the city life. It has changed from the days of the ubiquitous compounder to the stage of implementation of ERP softwares. From the days when it took days for lab reports to come, to the days where they can be obtained online. The health sector is in for some huge reforms. The players who are bringing in such change are none other than corporates. Think of corporates like wockhardt, ranbaxy, apollo, etc who are employing the skills of management which have helped them grow so efficiently in their respective fields, now being implemented in hospitals. Concepts like just-in-time (JIT), Six sigma, etc have found their way from the manufacturing shop-floor to the operating table. It does represent what lies ahead.

See, i think we have just covered the spectrum here. The darkest side lies in the heartland of rural and some parts of lower socioeconomic strata in the cities, while the other side in the cities is glowing with all its might.

I dont know what disturbs me. This unequal distribution of facilities to serve up my basic right of being healthy or my inability to bridge the divide. But there is something which is disturbing me. I wish and pray that by the time I leave this planet, I must have made these segments more closer than before.

till sometime later,
from office,
this is,
javed.