Despite promises of democracy and public service, citizens face inhumane treatment, costly healthcare, and unaccountable institutions, it’s time to demand transparency, affordable medicines, and genuine care for all
We often experience disappointment whenever we enter government offices or institutions, as we are often treated poorly. We are treated as second-class citizens by those holding pens, papers, or wearing white coats. When entering any government institution, we hear our inner voice asking why we came here—wasn’t there any other way of doing the same? They make us feel inhumane, like we are nothing in front of them, and as if they are the creators.
In a democratic state, it is our right to raise our voices against oppression, injustice, and unlawful acts, because we are the ones who make the government, we empower them to rule us, and we hold them accountable for implementing laws in favour of citizens. The government institutions, whether they are schools, hospitals, or others, are not beyond accountability. We are free to raise our voices if anything wrong is going on there. We can ask questions about that.
Government officials—whether bureaucrats, political leaders, teachers, lawyers, or even doctors—are the servants of the nation, and their interest should primarily be national or for the individuals they serve. They should serve the nation, for what they have been appointed, more than their own desires.
It takes months, or even years, in government offices to get a small piece of work done—whether it is obtaining a signature on documents or approving a genuine business file. There is no value for an individual’s time in those offices, and often no value for the individual themselves. People suffer greatly, making endless rounds of government offices, yet no one takes care of them. This is why we say we are voiceless—no one is hearing us, not even those we elect.
Recently, a viral video from SMHS hospital showed a patient’s relative slapping a doctor. Why did he slap him? The doctors protested the slapping, and meanwhile, the patient died. Who is responsible for that? Approximately 98,000 to 1 lakh people in India die each year due to medical negligence. As per the National Library of Medicine, the yearly number of medical negligence cases in India is around 5.2 million, and some studies have recorded around a 110% jump in annual numbers. When it comes to deaths due to medical errors, about 80% involve surgery. They need more accountability for negligence.
If there is a lack of resources, then why don’t they ask for them? Why do poor lives not matter in their view? Why do the poor always suffer? In the year 2024–25, the budget allocated for the health sector in Jammu and Kashmir was Rs 8,333.45 crore. Then where is it invested? We all know the infrastructure of government hospitals is worse than private hospitals, the staff are less serious than in private hospitals, and public health facilities are fewer.
Many schemes were launched to uplift the poor conditions of individuals by the Government of India. Similarly, the government initiated many schemes to improve the health of individuals. Several government schemes in India aim to improve healthcare access and affordability. Key initiatives include Ayushman Bharat, which provides health insurance coverage, and Rashtriya Arogya Nidhi and the Health Minister’s Cancer Patient Fund, which offer financial assistance for life-threatening diseases.
Nowadays, medicines cost a lot. An individual spends thousands of rupees on healthcare, especially on medicines, even the poor. Medicines consume someone’s monthly salary, someone else’s day’s labour, or someone’s whole savings.
The Government of India has invested a lot in healthcare and services. One more thing is that the cost of medicines should be reduced so the poor can access them easily. Some initiatives should also address concerns such as:
Limitations on private medical shops run by government doctors or unqualified practitioners,
Proper time management for hospital staff and doctors,
Ensuring the availability of resources and equipment in government hospitals, so patients are not forced to visit private clinics and spend heavily on scans or tests that could be done at affordable rates in government hospitals.
And one major step is that the government should nationalise private clinics in India. This would make medicines accessible to all at affordable prices. They should regulate the pricing of medicines, scans, and medical diagnostics.
By doing this, what will happen? Nowadays, the medical profession has become a business. No one takes care of patients’ lives and health—they can do anything to run their business. Doctors will then treat patients properly and will not send them to their private clinics for further treatment.
A doctor should be the cause of cure, not the cause of disease.
Fiza Aijaz Reshi
re*************@***il.com