By Lokethar
Private hospitals and clinics in Yangon City provide health care services undoubtedly. But, most of them have to share the service of many “Specialist” doctors for their expertise. Timely visit of the Specialist to the private facility maybe difficult which leaves patients unwittingly waiting for the doctor, with the service staff insisting that the patients arrive early and suffer the waiting. Sometimes the waiting is for hours and not knowing the“Token Number”being served can be exasperating; More transparency is needed in the patients’“Q-ing.”
As for specialist care, the practice in most countries is on reference by the Primary Health Care Services, General Physicians who transfer to specialists if needed with the consent of the patient who by them is treated. The frustration expressed in the poem would be well understood by those, especially the elderly and the frail, who have to visit Private Hospitals’ outpatients facilities regularly for examination, treatment or consultation of one “Specialist” or another.
I would, however, like to elaborate on Primary Health Care Services mentioned in the second stanza of the poem. The Ministry of Health has had Township Primary Medical Clinics in the various Townships in the City of Yangon since many years ago. It is the same in case of many other Cities. Besides, there are village level primary care clinics, in many cases manned by what we know as Health Assistants, Midwives and Nurses. They are providing a much needed service.
My point is this: Basic Structure of Primary Health Care has been in place in Myanmar for a long time. What I would like to suggest is that they be increased, upgraded, streamlined and manned by an adequate number of General Physicians and Nurses. These Primary Health Care Centres (I don’t know if it’s the right term to use) if managed and run well, could contribute immensely to meeting health care needs of the general public.
The Primary Health Care Centres would be the first line of defense against disease and ill—health suffered by the people. The General Physicians of the PHC Centre would decide if a particular patient needs “Specialist” care. The PHC Centre, if run well, would encourage, particularly people who are “sick” to get prescriptions for needed medication from them instead of going to the medicine sellers and asking them what they should take to get relief for their ailment. That would prevent people from taking medicines, like Antibiotics and strong Analgesics which might harm them in the long run. This would be true as well of patients visiting the Public Hospitals, which may even now, be overburdened with patients not really requiring hospitalization and “Specialist” care.
With the population of Yangon increasing rapidly, and more people needing health care, the Primary Health Care Centres would serve a dire need. My apologies if what I have suggested is already being done.
With Charity to all and Malice to none.
