DOCTORS REACH OUT

Of all India’s paradoxes, the weirdest seems to be the way it provides health care to its people. While it offers high-end care to medical tourists as well as Indians who are able to afford the high costs, millions of Indians continue to have limited or no access to basic healthcare.

Responding to this challenge and listening to the calling of their profession, a band of dedicated young Indian doctors have started providing medical help to those who need it most, at the cost of their studies, careers and comfort.  Called “Doctors For You (DFY)”, this group shot into fame recently when they were awarded the “best medical team in a crisis zone” award by the prestigious British Medical Journal group for helping victims of the 2008 Bihar floods.

When millions were rendered homeless during the Kosi floods in Bihar, DFY deployed 110 of its members to treat villagers for diarrhea, chest infections, snake bites, typhoid and malaria. During the 6 months the group treated around 130,000 patients in villages, relief camps and mobile clinics. One of its young members, Dr Chandrakant Patel, lost his life when struck by lighting while sleeping in the open in a medical camp.

DFY was formed in 2007 in Mumbai by a group of young doctors and medical students from government medical colleges to organize blood donations to tide over dengue and malaria epidemics in Mumbai slums when blood and blood products often fell short. Now DFY has clinics in Mumbai and Saharsa (Bihar) and is gearing up to become one of the rapid-response medical teams during natural calamities.

Médecins sans Frontières (MSF) is another such group reaching out to needy communities. It is an independent international medical aid organisation that delivers emergency aid to people affected by armed conflict, epidemics, natural or man-made disasters.

Founded in Paris, in 1971, by a small group of doctors and journalists, it is now an international apolitical movement with branches in 19 countries, conducting 3,800 missions every year with the services of 22,500 volunteers across the globe. 

MSF’s presence in India is substantial. Through small clinics strategically located, it is helping tackle AIDS and tuberculosis in Mumbai and Manipur, Kala azar in Bihar, primary health problems in Naxal-infested Andhra and Chhatisgarh, and mental health issues in strife -torn Kashmir. In addition it responds to medical challenges that natural calamities and conflicts throw up such as the flash floods in Leh and the wreckage of cyclone Aila in Bengal.

Young medicos coming out of medical colleges could benefit immensely by joining these organizations, even for a while, to regain their orientation to medical “service”. Doctors and volunteers who provide these services in remote areas often live the lives of unrecognized heroes and could act as inspiring role models for today’s youth. It is yet another Indian paradox, though, that our media gives them scant attention, and does not bring them adeqautely into the lime light, as they deserve.

As published in HT City( Hindustan Times) dated 19 June, 2011.