Sajjad Bazaz
A paraphrase of the Roman poet Virgil’s famous comment that “the greatest wealth is health” is the idea that our physical and mental well-being are arguably the most valuable assets of all. The adage is a constant reminder that thefinancial importance of physical and mental health – vital components of a happy life – are interconnected. There are studies on record that have shown that higher socio-economic status usually leads to improved health prospects. But, at the same time, the opposite is also true. If your health suffers, then so do your finances.
In other words, at its core, “health is wealth” means that your physical and mental well-being is far more important than wealth in the realm of life satisfaction. It’s saying, “Yes, money is great. It can solve many problems and lead to a fantastic quality of life. But in the absence of good health, it means very little.”
However, at our place (Jammu & Kashmir), those responsible in the health sector to render healthcare facilities to the general public are losing the trust of patients. Even as quality treatment facilities are in place, the treatment protocol in a good percentage of cases is believed to be a source of accumulating wealth at the cost of patients’ health. Precisely, for them “wealth is health” as they unload the pocket of patients more in the name of treating their disease.
In order to bring the critical issues confronting our health sector that have been pushing the patients to the wall, and in many instances condemning the patients to death, we highlight the state of affairs in the sector so that the concerned authorities at the helm of affairs relieve the patients of miseries. The stories covered here are just a tip of iceberg as unscrupulous elements in the healthcare sector, particularly those wearing white coat, are indulging in lingering loot at the cost of sufferings of patients.
