meet up Dooley a poor farmer from a very mode Willett of Bangladesh about three
mode Willett of Bangladesh about three
mode Willett of Bangladesh about three years ago his wife was pregnant with
years ago his wife was pregnant with
years ago his wife was pregnant with their second child and in their third
their second child and in their third
their second child and in their third trimester Abdul one night woke up
trimester Abdul one night woke up
trimester Abdul one night woke up hearing a scream
hearing a scream
hearing a scream he realized very quickly that his wife’s
he realized very quickly that his wife’s
he realized very quickly that his wife’s water had broken and she was in
water had broken and she was in
water had broken and she was in excruciating pain he calculated that it
excruciating pain he calculated that it
excruciating pain he calculated that it would take about five hours to get to
would take about five hours to get to
would take about five hours to get to the nearest hospital she would never
the nearest hospital she would never
the nearest hospital she would never make it so he did the only thing he knew
make it so he did the only thing he knew
make it so he did the only thing he knew how to do in these circumstances he
how to do in these circumstances he
how to do in these circumstances he called his family doctor the doctor
called his family doctor the doctor
called his family doctor the doctor picked up and before he could hang up
picked up and before he could hang up
picked up and before he could hang up that person was on his way in less than
that person was on his way in less than
that person was on his way in less than 30 minutes he could hear two sets of
30 minutes he could hear two sets of
30 minutes he could hear two sets of footsteps outside his door not only had
footsteps outside his door not only had
footsteps outside his door not only had the family doctor come he had also
the family doctor come he had also
the family doctor come he had also brought the local Midwife so they got
brought the local Midwife so they got
brought the local Midwife so they got into action
into action
into action they fixed us a line drip they’ve
they fixed us a line drip they’ve
they fixed us a line drip they’ve managed her blood pressure and it was a
managed her blood pressure and it was a
managed her blood pressure and it was a close encounter with death as abdul
close encounter with death as abdul
close encounter with death as abdul stood by numb and in shock it was close
stood by numb and in shock it was close
stood by numb and in shock it was close to dawn and after several hours of this
to dawn and after several hours of this
to dawn and after several hours of this fight abdul could suddenly see his tired
fight abdul could suddenly see his tired
fight abdul could suddenly see his tired wife beaming at him with a beautiful
wife beaming at him with a beautiful
wife beaming at him with a beautiful newborn daughter in her arms what if I
newborn daughter in her arms what if I
newborn daughter in her arms what if I told you that the family doctor that you
told you that the family doctor that you
told you that the family doctor that you envisioned while I was sharing that
envisioned while I was sharing that
envisioned while I was sharing that story was not a booth family doctor what
story was not a booth family doctor what
story was not a booth family doctor what if it was someone like this a local
if it was someone like this a local
if it was someone like this a local medicine seller who had very little
medicine seller who had very little
medicine seller who had very little medical training if you ask any doctor
medical training if you ask any doctor
medical training if you ask any doctor or anyone from the global health
or anyone from the global health
or anyone from the global health profession they would tell you that this
profession they would tell you that this
profession they would tell you that this person is a quack an impostor from the
person is a quack an impostor from the
person is a quack an impostor from the dark underbelly of rural healthcare but
dark underbelly of rural healthcare but
dark underbelly of rural healthcare but if you’re Abdul or his wife would you
if you’re Abdul or his wife would you
if you’re Abdul or his wife would you agree this story
agree this story
agree this story comes from one of these dark zones which
comes from one of these dark zones which
comes from one of these dark zones which are devoid not only of electricity but
are devoid not only of electricity but
are devoid not only of electricity but also of healthcare according to the
also of healthcare according to the
also of healthcare according to the World Health Organization about 57
World Health Organization about 57
World Health Organization about 57 countries have an acute shortage of
countries have an acute shortage of
countries have an acute shortage of doctors at least two billion people and
doctors at least two billion people and
doctors at least two billion people and there are many estimates but about two
there are many estimates but about two
there are many estimates but about two billion people cannot access a facility
billion people cannot access a facility
billion people cannot access a facility or a doctor when they need treatment in
or a doctor when they need treatment in
or a doctor when they need treatment in Bangladesh in rural Bangladesh there’s
Bangladesh in rural Bangladesh there’s
Bangladesh in rural Bangladesh there’s only one doctor for every 10,000 people
only one doctor for every 10,000 people
only one doctor for every 10,000 people compare that with 18 doctors in urban
compare that with 18 doctors in urban
compare that with 18 doctors in urban areas so what do people do when they’re
areas so what do people do when they’re
areas so what do people do when they’re in such circumstances I found out
in such circumstances I found out
in such circumstances I found out personally the hard way in 2009 I was
personally the hard way in 2009 I was
personally the hard way in 2009 I was travelling in the southern built near
travelling in the southern built near
travelling in the southern built near the Sundarbans and I stayed for the
the Sundarbans and I stayed for the
the Sundarbans and I stayed for the night to visit visit a village fair I
night to visit visit a village fair I
night to visit visit a village fair I went to bed and about 2 a.m. in the
went to bed and about 2 a.m. in the
went to bed and about 2 a.m. in the morning I woke up with terrible
morning I woke up with terrible
morning I woke up with terrible abdominal pain I was in agony and I
abdominal pain I was in agony and I
abdominal pain I was in agony and I could feel that I was getting very very
could feel that I was getting very very
could feel that I was getting very very sick very quickly I started having
sick very quickly I started having
sick very quickly I started having continuous bouts of diarrhea and
continuous bouts of diarrhea and
continuous bouts of diarrhea and vomiting and I was pretty sure that it
vomiting and I was pretty sure that it
vomiting and I was pretty sure that it was cholera by 6 a.m. I was so
was cholera by 6 a.m. I was so
was cholera by 6 a.m. I was so dehydrated that I was about to lose
dehydrated that I was about to lose
dehydrated that I was about to lose consciousness and I had almost resigned
consciousness and I had almost resigned
consciousness and I had almost resigned my life to fate I reached out with the
my life to fate I reached out with the
my life to fate I reached out with the last ounce of energy that I had left I
last ounce of energy that I had left I
last ounce of energy that I had left I reached out for the phone on my bedside
reached out for the phone on my bedside
reached out for the phone on my bedside table I took it and I texted my den
table I took it and I texted my den
table I took it and I texted my den fiance that I might never see her again
fiance that I might never see her again
fiance that I might never see her again luckily I survived that night and I got
luckily I survived that night and I got
luckily I survived that night and I got married and my wife is actually sitting
married and my wife is actually sitting
married and my wife is actually sitting right there but I survived partly due to
right there but I survived partly due to
right there but I survived partly due to chance and if I was not a novice
chance and if I was not a novice
chance and if I was not a novice urbanite I would have known where to go
urbanite I would have known where to go
urbanite I would have known where to go that night and it would have been
that night and it would have been
that night and it would have been someone like this it would have been one
someone like this it would have been one
someone like this it would have been one of those quacks the that the doctors
of those quacks the that the doctors
of those quacks the that the doctors would call quacks there they go by many
would call quacks there they go by many
would call quacks there they go by many names they are called rural medical
names they are called rural medical
names they are called rural medical practitioners they’re called village
practitioners they’re called village
practitioners they’re called village medics and round up their political
medics and round up their political
medics and round up their political shock you can call them anything you
shock you can call them anything you
shock you can call them anything you like but and they come in all kinds of
like but and they come in all kinds of
like but and they come in all kinds of shapes and sizes as well so some sit in
shapes and sizes as well so some sit in
shapes and sizes as well so some sit in a pharmacy some don’t
a pharmacy some don’t
a pharmacy some don’t some have private chambers some are big
some have private chambers some are big
some have private chambers some are big wholesalers where some retailers but
wholesalers where some retailers but
wholesalers where some retailers but what differentiates them from any other
what differentiates them from any other
what differentiates them from any other kind of health provider is that they are
kind of health provider is that they are
kind of health provider is that they are part of the community that they serve
part of the community that they serve
part of the community that they serve and even unlike community health workers
and even unlike community health workers
and even unlike community health workers these are entrepreneurs so they start
these are entrepreneurs so they start
these are entrepreneurs so they start their profession pretty early in life
their profession pretty early in life
their profession pretty early in life and they actually carried through all
and they actually carried through all
and they actually carried through all the way till the end of their careers so
the way till the end of their careers so
the way till the end of their careers so they have long relationships with the
they have long relationships with the
they have long relationships with the people that they serve in Bangladesh
people that they serve in Bangladesh
people that they serve in Bangladesh about 67 percent of people trust these
about 67 percent of people trust these
about 67 percent of people trust these guys as their first point of care in
guys as their first point of care in
guys as their first point of care in anywhere across the world if you look at
anywhere across the world if you look at
anywhere across the world if you look at any developing country you would find
any developing country you would find
any developing country you would find that 40 to 80% of rural primary care is
that 40 to 80% of rural primary care is
that 40 to 80% of rural primary care is actually delivered by them this is
actually delivered by them this is
actually delivered by them this is despite the fact that for the better
despite the fact that for the better
despite the fact that for the better part of half a century the world has
part of half a century the world has
part of half a century the world has actually called them quacks and made
actually called them quacks and made
actually called them quacks and made them the villains in in the health care
them the villains in in the health care
them the villains in in the health care system billions of dollars have been
system billions of dollars have been
system billions of dollars have been invested in creating alternative better
invested in creating alternative better
invested in creating alternative better providers and displacing them why is it
providers and displacing them why is it
providers and displacing them why is it that they are so popular despite all of
that they are so popular despite all of
that they are so popular despite all of this enemity towards them I want to
this enemity towards them I want to
this enemity towards them I want to illustrate that with a with a few
illustrate that with a with a few
illustrate that with a with a few stories so polish here is a village
stories so polish here is a village
stories so polish here is a village medic his father was a legendary village
medic his father was a legendary village
medic his father was a legendary village medic in the village that he comes from
medic in the village that he comes from
medic in the village that he comes from polish studied as studied Bengali
polish studied as studied Bengali
polish studied as studied Bengali literature and he wanted to become a
literature and he wanted to become a
literature and he wanted to become a teacher in the local primary school but
teacher in the local primary school but
teacher in the local primary school but on his deathbed
on his deathbed
on his deathbed his father wished that polish continued
his father wished that polish continued
his father wished that polish continued his legacy so he did and today polish
his legacy so he did and today polish
his legacy so he did and today polish knows almost every one of his thousands
knows almost every one of his thousands
knows almost every one of his thousands of patients by name as they pour in
of patients by name as they pour in
of patients by name as they pour in through his pharmacy from morning to
through his pharmacy from morning to
through his pharmacy from morning to dusk he pours them tea he chats with
dusk he pours them tea he chats with
dusk he pours them tea he chats with them about their loved ones and even
them about their loved ones and even
them about their loved ones and even fixes a rickshaw for his elderly
fixes a rickshaw for his elderly
fixes a rickshaw for his elderly patients he’s so much a part of the
patients he’s so much a part of the
patients he’s so much a part of the community that no local shall eat or
community that no local shall eat or
community that no local shall eat or arbitration actually happens without his
arbitration actually happens without his
arbitration actually happens without his presence people even call him to resolve
presence people even call him to resolve
presence people even call him to resolve their family disputes about three months
their family disputes about three months
their family disputes about three months ago in Natrona where he serves there was
ago in Natrona where he serves there was
ago in Natrona where he serves there was a big flood for the second time this
a big flood for the second time this
a big flood for the second time this year
year
year and a lot of the crops were destroyed
and a lot of the crops were destroyed
and a lot of the crops were destroyed people’s lives were at stake and what
people’s lives were at stake and what
people’s lives were at stake and what Pollard’s started doing really startled
Pollard’s started doing really startled
Pollard’s started doing really startled us he started giving away thousands of
us he started giving away thousands of
us he started giving away thousands of dollars worth of medicines for free or
dollars worth of medicines for free or
dollars worth of medicines for free or on credit when we asked him why he was
on credit when we asked him why he was
on credit when we asked him why he was doing that he said if my people don’t
doing that he said if my people don’t
doing that he said if my people don’t live what use would they have of a
live what use would they have of a
live what use would they have of a doctor so it’s for this reason that you
doctor so it’s for this reason that you
doctor so it’s for this reason that you cannot displace village medics it is
cannot displace village medics it is
cannot displace village medics it is because of this that you cannot fix
because of this that you cannot fix
because of this that you cannot fix rural healthcare without their help in
rural healthcare without their help in
rural healthcare without their help in 2013 I was a global health practitioner
2013 I was a global health practitioner
2013 I was a global health practitioner and we had worked for a few years in in
and we had worked for a few years in in
and we had worked for a few years in in the health space and we learned this
the health space and we learned this
the health space and we learned this fact and I saw this big disconnect
fact and I saw this big disconnect
fact and I saw this big disconnect between the language we used to describe
between the language we used to describe
between the language we used to describe them and the reality on the ground so we
them and the reality on the ground so we
them and the reality on the ground so we had some experience in technology and we
had some experience in technology and we
had some experience in technology and we decided that telemedicine might be a
decided that telemedicine might be a
decided that telemedicine might be a great way to help them serve their
great way to help them serve their
great way to help them serve their community better how did we do that the
community better how did we do that the
community better how did we do that the idea was pretty simple so they have
idea was pretty simple so they have
idea was pretty simple so they have these deep trusting relationships with
these deep trusting relationships with
these deep trusting relationships with their clients what if we gave them some
their clients what if we gave them some
their clients what if we gave them some a tablet with some application and some
a tablet with some application and some
a tablet with some application and some medical equipment and gave them the
medical equipment and gave them the
medical equipment and gave them the training so that they could facilitate a
training so that they could facilitate a
training so that they could facilitate a consultation with an urban doctor over
consultation with an urban doctor over
consultation with an urban doctor over the Internet
the Internet
the Internet this way we leverage both the trust and
this way we leverage both the trust and
this way we leverage both the trust and the acceptance of the village medic and
the acceptance of the village medic and
the acceptance of the village medic and and the skills and capacity of a doctor
and the skills and capacity of a doctor
and the skills and capacity of a doctor so the process went like this a patient
so the process went like this a patient
so the process went like this a patient would come in about 15 minutes walk away
would come in about 15 minutes walk away
would come in about 15 minutes walk away to the nearest pharmacy she would
to the nearest pharmacy she would
to the nearest pharmacy she would explain her complications and the person
explain her complications and the person
explain her complications and the person would be trained to capture all of that
would be trained to capture all of that
would be trained to capture all of that in the tablet they would gather some
in the tablet they would gather some
in the tablet they would gather some vitals and the blood pressure let’s say
vitals and the blood pressure let’s say
vitals and the blood pressure let’s say or some physical examinations there
or some physical examinations there
or some physical examinations there would be the eyes and ears of the doctor
would be the eyes and ears of the doctor
would be the eyes and ears of the doctor on the ground and then they would send
on the ground and then they would send
on the ground and then they would send all of this information to the doctor
all of this information to the doctor
all of this information to the doctor the doctor would review this he would
the doctor would review this he would
the doctor would review this he would form a hypothesis call back have a video
form a hypothesis call back have a video
form a hypothesis call back have a video call with the patient and type out a
call with the patient and type out a
call with the patient and type out a prescription and send it back within a
prescription and send it back within a
prescription and send it back within a few minutes the prescription would be
few minutes the prescription would be
few minutes the prescription would be printed
printed
printed and the medicines would be dispensed
and the medicines would be dispensed
and the medicines would be dispensed this entire process would take about 30
this entire process would take about 30
this entire process would take about 30 minutes as we roll this out
minutes as we roll this out
minutes as we roll this out we had many learnings and many
we had many learnings and many
we had many learnings and many challenges of course and what really
challenges of course and what really
challenges of course and what really stood out was the fact that not only did
stood out was the fact that not only did
stood out was the fact that not only did village medics do a great job at being
village medics do a great job at being
village medics do a great job at being the eyes and ears of the doctors on the
the eyes and ears of the doctors on the
the eyes and ears of the doctors on the ground they actually also learned from
ground they actually also learned from
ground they actually also learned from the practices of the doctor and
the practices of the doctor and
the practices of the doctor and translated that into their own practice
translated that into their own practice
translated that into their own practice so we saw them actually improving the
so we saw them actually improving the
so we saw them actually improving the way they serve their patients as a
way they serve their patients as a
way they serve their patients as a result of this service I also wanted to
result of this service I also wanted to
result of this service I also wanted to share one really inspiring story that
share one really inspiring story that
share one really inspiring story that that moves eludes me to this day
that moves eludes me to this day
that moves eludes me to this day Ozma was this 11 year old girl who was
Ozma was this 11 year old girl who was
Ozma was this 11 year old girl who was really bright and she stood first in all
really bright and she stood first in all
really bright and she stood first in all her school exams she had a skin
her school exams she had a skin
her school exams she had a skin infection and because of that she
infection and because of that she
infection and because of that she started losing her hair and because of
started losing her hair and because of
started losing her hair and because of the bullies at school she actually
the bullies at school she actually
the bullies at school she actually decided to drop out now imagine what
decided to drop out now imagine what
decided to drop out now imagine what that means for a girl her age that might
that means for a girl her age that might
that means for a girl her age that might mean that she would get married at 13
mean that she would get married at 13
mean that she would get married at 13 that might mean that she might get a
that might mean that she might get a
that might mean that she might get a baby at the age of 15 and lived the rest
baby at the age of 15 and lived the rest
baby at the age of 15 and lived the rest of her life in a very different way than
of her life in a very different way than
of her life in a very different way than she would have if she was educated and
she would have if she was educated and
she would have if she was educated and self empowered so our doctors found her
self empowered so our doctors found her
self empowered so our doctors found her and she was given only a few hundred
and she was given only a few hundred
and she was given only a few hundred taka worth of ointments and it resolved
taka worth of ointments and it resolved
taka worth of ointments and it resolved her condition and she was back in school
her condition and she was back in school
her condition and she was back in school in two weeks
now this isolated incident of one girl
now this isolated incident of one girl or even 10,000 patients that we’ve
or even 10,000 patients that we’ve
or even 10,000 patients that we’ve served through the telemedicine platform
served through the telemedicine platform
served through the telemedicine platform is not enough because there are tens of
is not enough because there are tens of
is not enough because there are tens of thousands hundreds of thousands of
thousands hundreds of thousands of
thousands hundreds of thousands of village medics out there and millions of
village medics out there and millions of
village medics out there and millions of patients that are taking service from
patients that are taking service from
patients that are taking service from them how do we make village medics a
them how do we make village medics a
them how do we make village medics a part of national healthcare policy and
part of national healthcare policy and
part of national healthcare policy and why are they not there yet I think the
why are they not there yet I think the
why are they not there yet I think the reason partly is that doctors who tend
reason partly is that doctors who tend
reason partly is that doctors who tend to control the healthcare policies in
to control the healthcare policies in
to control the healthcare policies in our country Harbor a deep distrust and
our country Harbor a deep distrust and
our country Harbor a deep distrust and disdain for village medics whom they
disdain for village medics whom they
disdain for village medics whom they call quacks and I feel that back when I
call quacks and I feel that back when I
call quacks and I feel that back when I started there was I did not have the
started there was I did not have the
started there was I did not have the ammunition to kind of combat some of
ammunition to kind of combat some of
ammunition to kind of combat some of those criticisms that they have they
those criticisms that they have they
those criticisms that they have they have some legitimate concerns but today
have some legitimate concerns but today
have some legitimate concerns but today after having worked in this space for
after having worked in this space for
after having worked in this space for about four years I feel ready to at
about four years I feel ready to at
about four years I feel ready to at least try to defend the village medics
least try to defend the village medics
least try to defend the village medics against some of the criticisms that come
against some of the criticisms that come
against some of the criticisms that come in because nobody is actually being
in because nobody is actually being
in because nobody is actually being their voice in in the national landscape
their voice in in the national landscape
their voice in in the national landscape so three of the most common concerns
so three of the most common concerns
so three of the most common concerns that come up the first one is they over
that come up the first one is they over
that come up the first one is they over prescribed they misdiagnosed patients
prescribed they misdiagnosed patients
prescribed they misdiagnosed patients and they give a lot of drugs that
and they give a lot of drugs that
and they give a lot of drugs that actually makes it much harder later on
actually makes it much harder later on
actually makes it much harder later on and makes the patient’s condition worse
and makes the patient’s condition worse
and makes the patient’s condition worse now this is partly true I’ve personally
now this is partly true I’ve personally
now this is partly true I’ve personally seen many cases where village medics
seen many cases where village medics
seen many cases where village medics have given wrong treatment but you have
have given wrong treatment but you have
have given wrong treatment but you have to understand that they’re part of a
to understand that they’re part of a
to understand that they’re part of a broader system and their product of that
broader system and their product of that
broader system and their product of that system so what do I mean by that
system so what do I mean by that
system so what do I mean by that consider the fact that if you’re a
consider the fact that if you’re a
consider the fact that if you’re a village medic most of your clients are
village medic most of your clients are
village medic most of your clients are poor rural patients and for them a day
poor rural patients and for them a day
poor rural patients and for them a day off of work might mean the difference
off of work might mean the difference
off of work might mean the difference between having food and not having food
between having food and not having food
between having food and not having food so for them getting a drug that actually
so for them getting a drug that actually
so for them getting a drug that actually resolves their problems within a day and
resolves their problems within a day and
resolves their problems within a day and gets them back to work is actually a
gets them back to work is actually a
gets them back to work is actually a great drug so there is a strong pool
great drug so there is a strong pool
great drug so there is a strong pool from the patients of these strong
from the patients of these strong
from the patients of these strong medicines that you and I would not
medicines that you and I would not
medicines that you and I would not consume on a daily basis on the other
consume on a daily basis on the other
consume on a daily basis on the other end we have
end we have
end we have one of the most competent pharma
one of the most competent pharma
one of the most competent pharma industries in the country in the world
industries in the country in the world
industries in the country in the world but there are also because of some
but there are also because of some
but there are also because of some relaxed regulatory structures there’s
relaxed regulatory structures there’s
relaxed regulatory structures there’s also really low-quality pharma companies
also really low-quality pharma companies
also really low-quality pharma companies that are engaged in a lot of malpractice
that are engaged in a lot of malpractice
that are engaged in a lot of malpractice and selling counterfeit medications what
and selling counterfeit medications what
and selling counterfeit medications what that means is there’s a lot of perverse
that means is there’s a lot of perverse
that means is there’s a lot of perverse incentive to actually push drugs as well
incentive to actually push drugs as well
incentive to actually push drugs as well so it’s a market that both demands and
so it’s a market that both demands and
so it’s a market that both demands and rewards drug pushing combine that with
rewards drug pushing combine that with
rewards drug pushing combine that with the fact that the village medic does not
the fact that the village medic does not
the fact that the village medic does not really know any better because for them
really know any better because for them
really know any better because for them the last training they have often
the last training they have often
the last training they have often received is twenty years ago and the
received is twenty years ago and the
received is twenty years ago and the only workshops that they get new
only workshops that they get new
only workshops that they get new information from is run by guess who
information from is run by guess who
information from is run by guess who those same pharma companies so the
those same pharma companies so the
those same pharma companies so the government sitting in this nexus it’s
government sitting in this nexus it’s
government sitting in this nexus it’s really hard for them to also regulate
really hard for them to also regulate
really hard for them to also regulate this massive infrastructure because
this massive infrastructure because
this massive infrastructure because they’re so decentralized it’s in every
they’re so decentralized it’s in every
they’re so decentralized it’s in every nook and cranny of the country and it’s
nook and cranny of the country and it’s
nook and cranny of the country and it’s really hard to monitor what’s happening
really hard to monitor what’s happening
really hard to monitor what’s happening there the second question that often
there the second question that often
there the second question that often comes up is they exploit patients for
comes up is they exploit patients for
comes up is they exploit patients for money by sending patients for
money by sending patients for
money by sending patients for unnecessary treatment and surgeries now
unnecessary treatment and surgeries now
unnecessary treatment and surgeries now if the first point was a half-truth the
if the first point was a half-truth the
if the first point was a half-truth the second one actually is quite inaccurate
second one actually is quite inaccurate
second one actually is quite inaccurate it’s almost a lie because in our own
it’s almost a lie because in our own
it’s almost a lie because in our own research as well as secondary research
research as well as secondary research
research as well as secondary research that we’ve come across we’ve seen that
that we’ve come across we’ve seen that
that we’ve come across we’ve seen that only about 3% of patient cases that a
only about 3% of patient cases that a
only about 3% of patient cases that a pharmacy sees are referred to upstream
pharmacy sees are referred to upstream
pharmacy sees are referred to upstream hospitals and diagnostic centers and
hospitals and diagnostic centers and
hospitals and diagnostic centers and even among those 3% more than 50% are
even among those 3% more than 50% are
even among those 3% more than 50% are actually sent to government facilities
actually sent to government facilities
actually sent to government facilities because when we ask village medics why
because when we ask village medics why
because when we ask village medics why that is the case they say if I send a
that is the case they say if I send a
that is the case they say if I send a patient to a private clinic and the
patient to a private clinic and the
patient to a private clinic and the patient gets bad treatment it would come
patient gets bad treatment it would come
patient gets bad treatment it would come back to hurt my own reputation they
back to hurt my own reputation they
back to hurt my own reputation they guard their reputation very very
guard their reputation very very
guard their reputation very very strongly the third point is that we
strongly the third point is that we
strongly the third point is that we doctors have to fix the mess that
doctors have to fix the mess that
doctors have to fix the mess that village medics create now this argument
village medics create now this argument
village medics create now this argument is a bit circular and kind of derives
is a bit circular and kind of derives
is a bit circular and kind of derives from the first two but it’s a bit
from the first two but it’s a bit
from the first two but it’s a bit circular like my son who his five years
circular like my son who his five years
circular like my son who his five years old and he refuses to go to school one
old and he refuses to go to school one
old and he refuses to go to school one day and the next morning he has it in
day and the next morning he has it in
day and the next morning he has it in himself to come back and complain about
himself to come back and complain about
himself to come back and complain about the fact that he got a punishment as a
the fact that he got a punishment as a
the fact that he got a punishment as a result
result
result because doctors are not ready to go live
because doctors are not ready to go live
because doctors are not ready to go live in villages but they are complaining
in villages but they are complaining
in villages but they are complaining about the shitty care that people
about the shitty care that people
about the shitty care that people receive as a result so if I have been
receive as a result so if I have been
receive as a result so if I have been able to convince you that village medics
able to convince you that village medics
able to convince you that village medics are here to stay and they’re very much a
are here to stay and they’re very much a
are here to stay and they’re very much a part of the rural society I hope I can
part of the rural society I hope I can
part of the rural society I hope I can start to show you the enormous Vista of
start to show you the enormous Vista of
start to show you the enormous Vista of opportunities that I see in my work so
opportunities that I see in my work so
opportunities that I see in my work so consider the fact that there’s at least
consider the fact that there’s at least
consider the fact that there’s at least 140,000 village medics in the country
140,000 village medics in the country
140,000 village medics in the country and they see at least 18 patients a day
and they see at least 18 patients a day
and they see at least 18 patients a day according to some research that means
according to some research that means
according to some research that means about two and a half million patients go
about two and a half million patients go
about two and a half million patients go through these pharmacies every single
through these pharmacies every single
through these pharmacies every single day imagine the kind of health care we
day imagine the kind of health care we
day imagine the kind of health care we could deliver like up those daughter or
could deliver like up those daughter or
could deliver like up those daughter or asthma if we were able to connect them
asthma if we were able to connect them
asthma if we were able to connect them to doctors and hospitals like through
to doctors and hospitals like through
to doctors and hospitals like through the telemedicine that we did or or
the telemedicine that we did or or
the telemedicine that we did or or otherwise what if we could build their
otherwise what if we could build their
otherwise what if we could build their skills and knowledge there’s been
skills and knowledge there’s been
skills and knowledge there’s been research in India that shows that if you
research in India that shows that if you
research in India that shows that if you train a village medic the difference
train a village medic the difference
train a village medic the difference between them and a doctor in identifying
between them and a doctor in identifying
between them and a doctor in identifying common illnesses can actually be
common illnesses can actually be
common illnesses can actually be significantly reduced we can equip them
significantly reduced we can equip them
significantly reduced we can equip them with technology today this is the
with technology today this is the
with technology today this is the century of biomedical sciences there are
century of biomedical sciences there are
century of biomedical sciences there are many innovations happening in medical
many innovations happening in medical
many innovations happening in medical artificial intelligence rapid
artificial intelligence rapid
artificial intelligence rapid Diagnostics which could potentially be
Diagnostics which could potentially be
Diagnostics which could potentially be channeled through village medics to the
channeled through village medics to the
channeled through village medics to the last mile and reach millions of people
last mile and reach millions of people
last mile and reach millions of people but we cannot see them in isolation
but we cannot see them in isolation
but we cannot see them in isolation because they’re not an isolated island
because they’re not an isolated island
because they’re not an isolated island unless we increase patient awareness
unless we increase patient awareness
unless we increase patient awareness which about these strong drugs and what
which about these strong drugs and what
which about these strong drugs and what harm it does in the long run unless we
harm it does in the long run unless we
harm it does in the long run unless we are able to control the counterfeit
are able to control the counterfeit
are able to control the counterfeit drugs market and the unholy nexus that
drugs market and the unholy nexus that
drugs market and the unholy nexus that happens in there unless we are able to
happens in there unless we are able to
happens in there unless we are able to introduce laws that protect the
introduce laws that protect the
introduce laws that protect the patient’s against mal practices not just
patient’s against mal practices not just
patient’s against mal practices not just at the quack but at doctors hospitals
at the quack but at doctors hospitals
at the quack but at doctors hospitals and everywhere else in the healthcare
and everywhere else in the healthcare
and everywhere else in the healthcare system this problem will not be solved
system this problem will not be solved
system this problem will not be solved in other words even if we simplify the
in other words even if we simplify the
in other words even if we simplify the problem significantly and have blame it
problem significantly and have blame it
problem significantly and have blame it all on quacks the solution is actually
all on quacks the solution is actually
all on quacks the solution is actually far more complex
far more complex
far more complex Abdul’s daughter the
Abdul’s daughter the
Abdul’s daughter the story story has started with in the
story story has started with in the
story story has started with in the beginning she must be about three years
beginning she must be about three years
beginning she must be about three years old by now she’s about the same age as
old by now she’s about the same age as
old by now she’s about the same age as my own daughter I want them to grow up
my own daughter I want them to grow up
my own daughter I want them to grow up in a world where they have a decent shot
in a world where they have a decent shot
in a world where they have a decent shot at a healthy and productive life whether
at a healthy and productive life whether
at a healthy and productive life whether they live in the city like my daughter
they live in the city like my daughter
they live in the city like my daughter or in the village like Abdul’s for that
or in the village like Abdul’s for that
or in the village like Abdul’s for that we must go beyond the black and white
we must go beyond the black and white
we must go beyond the black and white narratives the scapegoating of village
narratives the scapegoating of village
narratives the scapegoating of village medics and utilize every single resource
medics and utilize every single resource
medics and utilize every single resource we have at our disposal it’s often in
we have at our disposal it’s often in
we have at our disposal it’s often in those grey areas that the solutions lay
those grey areas that the solutions lay
those grey areas that the solutions lay hidden waiting for us to find them
hidden waiting for us to find them
hidden waiting for us to find them thank you
”
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