By Hindustan Times
A patients' body called People for Better Treatment has rallied behind Bollywood star Aamir Khan for that specialize in the "rot" within the Indian healthcare delivery system during his popular television programme. The actor, who hosts the Sunday television show Satyamev Jayate, have been the objective of protests by the Indian Medical Association (IMA) and a bit of the medical community for generalising about medical negligence and corruption in healthcare within the show.
The IMA bigshots claimed that the tv show has given a one-sided picture of "medical negligence and corruption" in healthcare. While some medicos have demanded an apology from the distinguished actor, some doctors have threatened a defamation lawsuit against Khan for "slandering" the medical community.
"The cause of such an overtly exaggerated response from our healers to a standard television program is bewildering indeed," president of individuals for Better Treatment, Kunal Saha, said in a statement.
"The shabby condition of Indian healthcare is a standard knowledge for the standard citizens. Reports of horrific deaths and injuries from alleged "medical negligence" in hospitals and nursing homes appear almost each day within the news," Saha said within the statement.
Aamir in a still from Satyamev Jayate
"There isn't any denying that the healthcare system in India have been riddled with negligence and corruption. Doctors involved with other Machiavellian activities which might be clearly against accepted medical ethics are available in almost every medical office and hospital," the statement said.
He alleged that acceptance of "commission" from medical laboratories for referring patients and taking "expensive gifts from drug manufacturers" for writing prescription of a particular drug has become a suitable" and shameless practice" by a lot of our healers despite the presence of stringent laws against such unethical behaviours.
"Deep-rooted corruption has plagued even Medical Council of India (MCI) - the top regulatory body for control of healthcare education and medical practice in India," Saha said.
"In fact, at this time moment, MCI is being run through a stop-gap measure with an Adhoc committee," he said.
"Little wonder that issues touching on "medical negligence" have come to the limelight within the recent years in India. Mr Khan hosted the tv show that specialize in corruption and negligence in healthcare seemingly to underscore this popular theme that is of serious significance in Indian society today," the statement added.
While at the one hand, the programme exposed the rampant corruption within the medical system, it also underscored the noble work done by many compassionate and honest doctors, said Saha.
