Health Care Comparison and Rotary Involvement

“A patient is the most important person in our Hospital. He is not an interruption to our work; he is the purpose of it. He is not an outsider in our Hospital; he is a part of it. We are not doing a favor by serving him; he is doing us a favor by giving us an opportunity to do so.” This is the Motto of the Bombay Hospital. Very powerful if you ask me. Most businesses would benefit with this commitment to service. In addition to their commitment to service, the Bombay makes their Healthcare very affordable, even by Indian standards. Unfortunately, there is not a Bombay Hospital in every village of India…

What have we learned about Health Care in India?

First of all, Health Care is much more affordable than in the United States. If you look at a majority of the Hospitals in India, you will soon figure out why. Equipment is old, conditions are poor, demand for service is overwhelming, and it is difficult to keep up. As GSE Team Members, we are privy to seeing the best of the best in India; fortunately, we also get an opportunity to see where the real problems lie. Believe this; there is much need for help in this Developing Country.

Fortunately, we have groups like the Rotary Club. For the most part, Rotarians acknowledge the importance of good relationships with elected officials, and network with industry leadership to get things done. It is unlikely to visit a city in India, where you do not find a Rotary sponsored Park, School, or Hospital ward (just to name a few). The Rotary Club of Ratlam has done an outstanding job and has excelled at providing much needed support in the medical field. Just today, we visited a Rotary Food Center at the Hospital, a Dialysis Center, Burn care Unit, Eye Bank, and a Rotary Ward at a Civil Hospital. They understand how to network with the right people in order to get the job done. Action and Momentum is Crucial; and Rotarians in Ratlam are not lacking in either of these.

Secondly, when we view the better Hospitals in India, we see that Government has strict regulations on Insurance Companies in order to protect the Patient. Here is something AMERICA CAN LEARN. Of the larger Hospitals in India that we have visited, including Bombay Hospital, The Mission Statements echo the same message, The Patient is number one, and we are fortunate to have the OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE THEM.

Capitalism and Lobbyists have corrupted Health care in the USA. High Medical Bills fueled by lack of Insurance Coverage, High Insurance Premiums, Lawsuits, etc need to be changed. We can learn from a Developing Country in this way. Let’s hope, as India Develops, that they don’t mimic our problems, but learn from them. Do these problems stem from Greed and Capitalism? Or is this just Negligence and Unconsciousness? We know what the problems are, yet we do not take a Pro-Active approach to providing a Long-Term and Sustainable Solution.

Let’s be aware as 2 Societies, and work as one to learn from each other. No one alone has all the right answers, but together we can find the proper Solutions. One thing is for sure, we need Organizations such as the Rotary to step in everywhere. Work hand-in-hand with Local, State, and National Government to Provide Solutions and act upon them. It is said that we all are separated by 6 degrees. I am sure that with these resources (unlimited), we can make a difference. Jai Hind!!! Jai America!!! Jai Rotary!!!