The story begins with my eye’s viral infection. My eyes have been attacked suddenly with millions (may be billions) of virus on 24th of August and my right eye failed to recuperate in such a dangerous attack and surrendered. As a result, my right eye started swelling with severe pain. I took the incident lightly and thought it would be alright after some time as every aam-admi does. But instead of recovering, the condition became worst and the pain was so unbearable that I have been forced to consult Doctor.
The Residential Society, in which I have taken room in last December, is at a very good place, if you consider it from the health care point of view. There are some private clinics on the right hand side of the society’s gate and a renowned government hospital on the left side. All of them are within five minutes walking distance.
On 26th of August I desperately left my room at around 9:15am for a private eye hospital as I could not sleep in the previous night due to serious pain. After leaving room I found myself in an awkward situation as there was no money in my wallet. Nearest SBI ATM in our area is inside the government hospital so I took the U-turn and went to the ATM.
While returning from the ATM, a strange thought came to my mind-let’s check my eyes in this government hospital. Pain was serious so experimenting with the system was not in my mind, only inciting factor was money. After thinking a few moments I found the idea somehow worthy if not exciting enough. My intuition was asking me what if I fail after investing my painful time. I made my mind with the logic that- what’s the value of time to an unemployed like me (as I was jobless at that time) and moreover if everything goes well, I’d save at least hundred rupees of doctor’s fee.
Finally I stood in the first queue at 9:28am and the system started playing with my pain. I have been made to stand in three queues (though no one and no signs had told particularly where to stand and no queue was consisting less than 50 people) before I could reach to doctor. And when I was in front of the doctor I was really puzzled whether he was listening to me or not. I made my best effort to make him understand my pain and was pleading for some effective prescription. He wrote something, hardly looking at the pad.
When I was about to leave and thanking him for his mercy, he informed me that all the medicine would be given free from the hospital’s dispensary. I was puzzled again, how could it be true! Anyway, I somehow found the dispensary and saw some huge lines; people were fighting there with each other, I don’t know why. I made my heart strong and stood in the fourth queue. After another long hour of struggle I got the medicine. To be honest I should write, I was able to collect the medicines which were being thrown out from the medicine counter.
When I returned to my room it was 12:58pm. I shared my whole experience with one of my friends happily as everything was done by mere five rupees. I was happy but my friend went speechless. He thought I was lying and I didn’t go to doctor. I was really very confused that why my friend was behaving like this and why the hell did he think I am lying. It took some time to make him believe that I am not lying and I have really consulted doctor and brought the medicines.
He described me one by one what a miracle has happened to me. Listen to his arguments-
The Residential Society, in which I have taken room in last December, is at a very good place, if you consider it from the health care point of view. There are some private clinics on the right hand side of the society’s gate and a renowned government hospital on the left side. All of them are within five minutes walking distance.
On 26th of August I desperately left my room at around 9:15am for a private eye hospital as I could not sleep in the previous night due to serious pain. After leaving room I found myself in an awkward situation as there was no money in my wallet. Nearest SBI ATM in our area is inside the government hospital so I took the U-turn and went to the ATM.
While returning from the ATM, a strange thought came to my mind-let’s check my eyes in this government hospital. Pain was serious so experimenting with the system was not in my mind, only inciting factor was money. After thinking a few moments I found the idea somehow worthy if not exciting enough. My intuition was asking me what if I fail after investing my painful time. I made my mind with the logic that- what’s the value of time to an unemployed like me (as I was jobless at that time) and moreover if everything goes well, I’d save at least hundred rupees of doctor’s fee.
Finally I stood in the first queue at 9:28am and the system started playing with my pain. I have been made to stand in three queues (though no one and no signs had told particularly where to stand and no queue was consisting less than 50 people) before I could reach to doctor. And when I was in front of the doctor I was really puzzled whether he was listening to me or not. I made my best effort to make him understand my pain and was pleading for some effective prescription. He wrote something, hardly looking at the pad.
When I was about to leave and thanking him for his mercy, he informed me that all the medicine would be given free from the hospital’s dispensary. I was puzzled again, how could it be true! Anyway, I somehow found the dispensary and saw some huge lines; people were fighting there with each other, I don’t know why. I made my heart strong and stood in the fourth queue. After another long hour of struggle I got the medicine. To be honest I should write, I was able to collect the medicines which were being thrown out from the medicine counter.
When I returned to my room it was 12:58pm. I shared my whole experience with one of my friends happily as everything was done by mere five rupees. I was happy but my friend went speechless. He thought I was lying and I didn’t go to doctor. I was really very confused that why my friend was behaving like this and why the hell did he think I am lying. It took some time to make him believe that I am not lying and I have really consulted doctor and brought the medicines.
He described me one by one what a miracle has happened to me. Listen to his arguments-
a) An instant service without jugaar (know-how support) is impossible in the government hospitals.
b) Mostly absent doctors and stuff even if show up, hardly listen or treat you respectfully.
c) Medicine is mostly dispatched to private chemists instead of free distribution. Doctor’s particular direction for free counter delivery is strange.
d) Literacy even hardly matters; written directions, signs or symbols are rare.
e) Household gossips seem to be the duty of the doctors and the staffs for which they are paid. Any noise or outcry resulting from fighting outside queue is considered a disturbance in gossip.
f) In emergency govt. hospital is considered the last alternative. Anyone returning without a vomiting tendency is strange and rare.
b) Mostly absent doctors and stuff even if show up, hardly listen or treat you respectfully.
c) Medicine is mostly dispatched to private chemists instead of free distribution. Doctor’s particular direction for free counter delivery is strange.
d) Literacy even hardly matters; written directions, signs or symbols are rare.
e) Household gossips seem to be the duty of the doctors and the staffs for which they are paid. Any noise or outcry resulting from fighting outside queue is considered a disturbance in gossip.
f) In emergency govt. hospital is considered the last alternative. Anyone returning without a vomiting tendency is strange and rare.
These are only the outer facts of the Indian government hospitals. Now, when someone tries to get admission or luckily gets admission in the government hospital for some reason, what happens to him and his relatives can’t be explained because no language has the power to define such inhuman torture which are being done by the hospital authority. And I am also not trying to describe because every aam-admi is aware of this condition.
The background of my friend’s disbelief was now clear to me. Without knowing anything, I went to a government hospital, crossed all these barricades, consulted doctor and also taken the medicine from the hospital- and all these works have been done within mere three and half hours and also I returned to room without the feeling of vomiting tendency. This is really a great, simply…… a Miracle!
On 28th of August, after two days of my government hospital’s visit and taking sincerely the given medication, condition of my eye did not improve a bit where as the swelling improved and pain increased fourfold. My friends started scolding me for going to the government hospital and believing that the ‘third class’ government medicine would cure me, I might have gone crazy. They were forcing me physically to consult any private specialist as soon as possible. As every aam-admi I took the situation again lightly and decided to keep patience for some more time.
On 30th of August, after four days of my daring adventure, I started feeling better. The swollen eye was becoming normal and the pain was much bearable. I was truly happy that at last I was getting some relief. I thanked the govt. hospital from the core of my heart for curing me and was feeling very special that at least I’ve got something in return of the money I have been paying for last 25 years in the name of various taxes. I announced loudly to my friends about my recovery and also gave them a long speech on why shouldn’t we curse the system every time and to avoid avoiding govt. mechanism. I also tried to motivate them to utilize the Rights which have been provided to us by our Union Government……..
On 30th September, after one month of all those, I am desperately wishing to consult a private eye specialist because my eyes are not cured properly and I have been facing some problems for last one month. I think 30 days are quite a good time for wait and watch and neglecting the fact now and believing the govt. hospital any more could be dangerous.
I know my friends were right that I am an idiot. I went to the government hospital and believed that the government doctor and the medicines would cure me. But now I have learnt my lesson and going to a Private Eye Clinic as soon as possible. You people, do me a favor- please don’t tell any of my pals that I‘ve been behaving like a fool for last one month. I am not worried just because I fear that they will curse me or beat me but I am worried because I don’t want to wipe out the last (and the least) hope of my friends from the government hospitals.
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