Health related information, supported by data, sourced to both World Health Organisation (WHO) and the country’s official channels, in addition to articles by those who are regarded as knowledgeable, in periodicals of all hues as well as journals of repute is emerging at a pace leaving the readers confused, if not dumb-founded. Even as the narratives are being published in land’s different languages, including Kannada, and can be accessed easily, the outreach of the valuable information seems to be beyond a majority in the country’s population, considering that more than 60 per cent reside in villages. Add to this, the rapidly growing number of urban poor bugged by low literacy, apart from their struggle to survive with uncertain livelihood. In this backdrop, welfare of people, when seen through the prism of economic prosperity of society, is tied to many factors other than and in addition to health, incompletely perceived as freedom from illness. Among the factors to be leveraged for ensuring welfare, qualified medical practitioners, genuine medicines, infrastructure in the form of well-equipped hospitals and affordable services committed to heal with a sense of empathy stand out. However, the ongoing dialogue with doctors practicing allopathic system of medicine seems to be lopsided, going by reports of administration taking unilateral measures.
Senior citizens in Mysuru can recollect the days of the citizens felled by illnesses seeking relief from doctor fraternity identified as General Practitioners (GPs) or Family Physicians, some of whom infused unfailing trust and confidence in the patients, earned by what used to be perceived as Hasthaguna (meaning correct diagnosis and appropriate medication). While the city has about 250 GPs at present, the medical profession is dominated by specialists.
