SATURDAY, APRIL 27, 2024
Goa has one of the best private hospitals, but yes, for those who can afford them. What about its public hospitals? And we have heard laments from many of how at one point public healthcare was down in the dumps both in terms of its infrastructure and service.
Over the last few years we had a number of occasions where we had to visit both private as well as the public hospitals for small emergencies and short admissions. One of the students of our Community Classroom had bumped his toe on a large stone during our community farming initiatives in Taleigao. Another accidentally fell off his cycle and lost his tooth. We also had parents of our students needing emergency care and admission for common ailments. And yes, at private hospitals there would often arise a moment where expensive procedures, surgeries would be proposed, but one could assess the irrelevance of it as common ailments have a way of healing naturally post emergency aid.
Covid was rearing its head again. This time with tell tale signs of severe headaches and body fatigue. Our students, their family members, office team and their families and finally the team at the community classroom. Children had very mild symptoms but adults typically were coming down with high fever, body ache, migraine like headaches and fatigue. When Vishal Sir, as the kids love to call him, was down with fever it was similar. However, when the symptoms got worse with high fever, a Covid test showed that he was positive. After home isolation, when symptoms of severe diarrhoea and leg cramps got worse, he was rushed to one of the private hospitals in the city and was asked to test for dengue, malaria and also typhoid. All were negative, so he was sent back. When the symptoms of a possible gut infection got worse and it was reported to the private hospital the consulting doctor rightly suggested admission instantly. She explained the procedure, and informed that admission and treatment would cost Rs 12,000 per day. She said it was a special facility for Covid with the top doc at service. We were aghast. When she noticed our hesitation, she quickly assured that there was a discount available and per day cost could be brought down to Rs 10,000. So how does one make an assessment of the total cost of hospitalisation? What if it took 10 days or more? Friends and family chipped in encouraging to opt for GMC and vouched for its experienced doctors and excellent teams and facilities. During the first and second waves of COVID-19, GMC was super overwhelmed and many had lost their near and dear ones. Not too sure about what lay in store at the public hospital, we went the next day to the Goa Medical College at Bambolim.
Vishal was taken to the Covid ward. One the first day, as none of the symptoms were noticeable and with all parameters normal, admission was not done. The staff were super efficient. The attending nurses did the requisites and gave the green chit to continue with home isolation. By evening the same day, symptoms got extreme. Fever of 104, uncontrollable shivering and debilitating leg cramps impeding mobility. Back at GMC, this time admissions were done, parameters checked and then moved to the Covid special ward. Once the papers are made with the patient details, this forms the critical piece of paper that records every symptom, prescribed meds, doctors’ notes, etc. Every specialist doctor, junior doctor, assistant, head nurse or trainee refers to this important piece of paper and each one does his or her bit following due processes and systems in place to help care and cure the patient. It is irrelevant to the team where the patient comes from, what class he or she belongs to or whether they know him or her personally.
At the Covid special ward, Vishal’s gut infection led to severe dehydration, muscle cramping of the legs and finally fluid retention. His kidneys were getting impacted. He thought he was not going to make it. He felt the toxicity building up with the fluid rising in his stomach. The young doctor in charge of the ward, shared his concern of kidneys malfunctioning and advised for immediate dialysis.
His best companion was Nilesh, a super conversationalist in the entire ward despite being mute and deaf. He shared stories about swimming in crocodile infested waters and wandering in orchards gorging on ripe mangoes and jackfruits. Chandu was the dialysis expert, also scheduled to go for dialysis along with Vishal on that day. He shared his tryst with kidney failure and how he had survived over the last eight years because of dialysis and the excellent facilities GMC had. Vishal consented, took the treatment and since then has been on the road to recovery. It's a miracle.
And it's not just one patient. All the others too. Because each one is cared for with absolute humanity. There were numerous tests to be done daily. Many trips to different parts of the vast campus and facilities. At each point and even in the remotest of labs and spaces, there was always someone like an angel a security guard, an attendant, a nurse, who would offer help, guide or assist. Anywhere outside, particularly in a private health care facility, every bit comes at a price. Nothing is free. But what is the key is the humaneness that one sees in every nook and corner of GMC. This people's hospital is like a complex microcosm, where each part is represented by each member of the team head of department, senior docs, junior docs, interns, nurses, wardens, attendants, helpers everybody is dedicated, passionate and responsible. Its success is not one that relies on only that one key person doing his or her bit. It is a collective effort of collaboration. This goes to show that public facilities too can run efficiently and provide for all of us in our large numbers. Governments must continue to invest in high quality public health care, education, mass transport and the like. This will become a possibility when our political representatives in the government don’t rush to the top private hospitals but readily accept admission in wards at GMC with the likes of Nilesh, Chandu and Vishal.
(Tallulah D’Silva is an
Architect and silver awardee of the Golden Door Award 2020 for truth and
integrity)
