AMITABH BACHCHAN, noted film star, has become synonyms with the plus polio campaign, often seen as advertisements on television - persuading people to administer polio drops to children. Now, another celebrity Aamir Khan, in his recently launched TV show, Satyamev Jayate, has touched on the issues that concern millions of poor and the downtrodden of the country. One of the episodes of the show, while exposing malpractices prevailing in the medical profession, has evoked sharp reactions from the medical fraternity, which accuses him of defaming the profession by shedding light only one side of the picture.
Aamir Khan has refused to tender an apology - stating that he was ready to face defamation charges in a court. Independent observers feel that the show must go on - not only on TV but also a follow-up national debate must take place about the issue so that malpractices in the name of the noble profession are checked up to some extent, if not totally removed.
Merinews has been highlighting the issues raised by actor Aamir Khan in his TV show Satyamev Jayate. Be it the issue of use of branded medicines or the evil of female foeticide, it has been highlighting these malpractices.
The readers would remember the story criticizing the encouragement given to female foeticide in the TV serial 'Na Anna Is Desh Laddo', which is telecasted on Colors channel. Merinews has also highlighted the use of generic medicines. Doctors may be right while arguing that for the acts of individuals the whole profession should not be defamed. Agreed, that there are very good and committed doctors in our country. People of northern India still remember the services of Dr. Vidyasagar in Pt. B.D. Sharma, Post Graduate Medical College, Rohtak.
Fortunately, Aamir Khan has got some positive response from the profession. Dr. Surinder N. Gupta from Kangra in Himachal Pradesh, has commented that it is not a question of defaming the profession, adding that unfortunately the younger doctors do not leave any opportunity these days to fleece us even if we are trapped and suffer from an illness, and seek their expert advise. He has advised that since the important part of the story is to introspect, one can start cleansing ourselves from within and fight for basic issues in the society as a human being, and not impose the doctors of wearing the badge of a pseudo image of a God.
Dr. Anil Kumar has commented that instead of targeting Aamir Khan we should target the rot in our healthcare system. Aamir's opponents have commented that just because there are troubles in the system, it does not give license to every Tom, Dick and Harry to tell blatant lies.
Aamir Khan has raised the issue of providing affordable medicines. We are living in a democracy called welfare state. It is the right of everybody to get affordable treatment. It is the duty of our governments, be the Union or the state governments, to provide affordable health care facilities to every body. Aamir Khan has given the remedy in the form of generic medicine, which are much cheaper than the branded medicines. Pharma companies manufacturing the branded medicines spend crores of rupees to ensure that their medicines are sold. They give cash gifts and other incentives to doctors - sponsoring their foreign visits - so that they prescribe these branded medicines to their patients.
Use of generic medicines should be encouraged in our country. Sometimes branded medicines are a hundred times costlier than generic medicines. Even the Parliament Standing Committee on health has recommenced that generic medicines should be encouraged. The Union government and some states, including Rajsthan and Haryana, have opened chemist shops where generic medicines are sold. G.L. Singla, Drug Controller, Haryana, who had been raising the issue of use of generic medicines, said that the answer to having affordable medicine, is the use of generic medicines.
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