Unhealthy country

I have been binge watching the second season of 'Laakhon mein Ek' on Prime over the long weekend. Never knew about it. Don't care about the first season. Its one of those new millenial online docu-drama series. This one places a young, extremely positive, and a little out-of-touch young student of medicine in the middle of a political imbroglio. I was hoping for a happy ending. Alas, like anything else Indian , this one too does not have any.

The sad reality is that the story in this series can never be tagged historic. It will be contemporary , even about 50 years from now. By the way things are going, hardly anything is going to improve. Therefore one can't say that the timing of such a story is relevant. Any Indian will be able to relate to this story, anytime.

Students of medicine in India have to undergo what is called 'rural service'. After 5 years of theory, and 1 year of internship, they have to serve 1 or 2 years working at remote hospitals or health centres deep inside Indian villages. Sometimes these places are in or near reserved forests, or up in the hilss, with no easy access or communication with the outside world. It is the exact opposite of a plush seat job, in an air conditioned clinic. The education is considered complete only after completion of this service, and is required to secure the degree. And this way, the system ensures that there is always a steady stream of young healthy energetic young doctors standing by to serve the section of population who are in most need of dependable health care.

The students hate it. The administration struggles with it. But milllions depend on it.

I have met my share of shady quacks and doctors deep in Indian villages. Have been very fortunate to escape the system. With the government providing the medicine, and them providing the hospitals and doctors, one would think it would all go along swimmingly. One could not be more wrong. The system corrupts everyone involved. And the patients are most affected.

Its pathetic. And there are thousands of stories of people trying to fight the system. Legally and otherwise.

And this is one of those attempts.