A crisis of faith: situations of hospitals in Pakistan
Dr Mohammad Zeeshan
Assistant Professor, Microbiology
“I don't want to go to the hospital". A 70-year-old man has expressed his reluctance to seek hospital care despite his waning hemodynamic condition that could be improved through urgent medical attention. This sentiment is ironic, as he has devoted more than four decades of his life to the medical field as a doctor.
Although autonomy in self-care - an important pillar of medical ethics - allows him to make informed decisions about his well-being, his decision stem from fear and mistrust – a damning reflection of Pakistan's healthcare system. It underscores the widespread disillusionment among citizens about the quality of care provided in our hospitals. This erosion of trust is further weakening an already broken healthcare system.
Why is the System Broken?
Public healthcare institutes are plagued by inefficient resource funding, a lack of trained personnel, outdated medical equipment, and rampant corruption. Private healthcare providers, who claim to be better service providers, are no more than bluffs with motives to get larger out-of-pocket payments. Apathy is common in both systems.
These systemic flaws have led to subpar patient care and widespread dissatisfaction among health seekers, including medical professionals themselves speaking volumes about the depth of this crisis.
Urgent structural and functional reforms are needed to restore faith in public health care. Harnessing the greed of private healthcare providers who sell the notion of “quality care" also requires an argus-eyed monitoring system. But “apathy" that has silently intruded and eroded the health system should also be addressed with high priority.
An Easy Fix: Compassionate and Respectful Care (CRC)
The concept of “Compassionate and Respectful Care" in healthcare has gained increasing recognition in recent years. Compassionate care is about understanding the patient's context and perspective, meeting their intrinsic need, and guiding them in decision-making. Similarly, paying attention, honouring, avoiding harm, and effective intervention to alleviate the patient's suffering are the salient features of respectful care. Research findings suggested that compassionate and respectful care could affect the effectiveness of treatment. For example, patients cared for by compassionate caregivers tend to disclose more comprehensive details about their symptoms and concerns, which aids in a better understanding of their conditions and diagnosis. Moreover, since anxiety and fear can impede recovery, the positive effects of compassionate behaviour enhance the recovery and healing of patients.
