Government Hospitals and Their Colonial Mindset

I’ve taken service from both government hospitals and private hospitals in Kolkata. It has taught me to find the infrastructural differences present in a government hospital and a private hospital. In terms of infrastructure and facilities, private hospitals are way ahead compared to the government ones. People like to go to private hospitals for treatment regardless of their astronomical expenses. A large number of patients of government hospitals are from the marginalized section of the society. They are dependent on government hospitals, knowing the lack of facilitative services at the government hospitals.

If we keep aside the infrastructure and facility part, one more thing that widens the gap between government hospitals and private hospitals is the behavior of the staff. The attitude of the government hospitals doctors and nurses are quite rude and harsh to the patients and their families. Government hospital staff behaves in such a way that they’re doing a charity by giving treatment. The tone in which they speak is not at all assuring for the patients and their families. Patients and their families deserve the right behavior from doctors and nurses at the government hospitals. However, the behavior of doctors and nurses of private hospitals are way better than the government hospitals. The staff of government hospitals should not think that patients are at their mercy. Patients go to government hospitals because the treatment costs are lesser compare to private hospitals. People who can’t afford to go to private hospitals are dependent on government hospitals.

There is no doubt that government hospital staffs have an attitude problem. Their colonial mindset is hurting people for a long time. It needs to change. On the other hand, when you look at the behavior of the staff of the private hospitals, you get amazed. The assurance in their voice and attitude is contagious (in the right way). There should not be any doubt that the staff of private hospitals goes through an orientation program on how to behave with patients. And I’m quite sure that this comes from the top.

An orientation program is required for the staff of the government hospitals too. Patients not only need treatment, but they also deserve a smile from the doctors and nurses.

                                                       (Source: Wikimedia Commons)