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Heart of Healthcare

Doctor’s duty extends beyond diagnosing; it’s about recognizing the humanity in every patient and offering compassion
11:18 PM Jan 21, 2025 IST | Dr Mohammad Younis Dar
heart of healthcare
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As doctors, we often find ourselves at the forefront of societal issues, bearing witness to the intricate web of human experiences. Our profession grants us a unique perspective, a finger on the pulse of society, if you will. But to truly appreciate the complexities of human nature, we must pair our medical expertise with a human heart.

A recent encounter in my OPD left an indelible mark on my conscience. A woman, desperate for treatment, presented herself before me. After examination and consultation, I prescribed the necessary medications. However, some of these medicines were not available in our hospital stock, and she was required to purchase them on her own.

What transpired next shook me to my core. The woman, overcome with emotion, revealed that she was unable to afford the medicines. But instead of asking for financial assistance, she produced a sickle – a tool used to cut grass during the summer months. She proposed that if anyone in the hospital staff would purchase the sickle, she could use the money to buy the prescribed medications.

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Moved by her plight, I arranged for her medicines to be provided free of cost. As I handed the sickle back to her, I couldn’t help but feel a deep sense of responsibility. There are countless individuals around us who struggle to make ends meet, who face impossible choices between basic necessities and life-saving treatments.

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As members of the medical fraternity, we have a sacred duty to empathize with our patients, to recognize the inherent humanity that binds us together. Our profession is not merely a science, but an art that requires compassion, kindness, and understanding.

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As I go about my daily routine at the primary health centre, I am constantly reminded of the harsh realities faced by the different groups of people in our society. I often see elderly people, abandoned by their children, wander into our hospital, clutching onto their meager belongings and dignity.

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Their stories are heart-wrenching, their struggles a testament to the cruel indifference of a society that seems to have forgotten its elderly. I see them every day, shuffling through the corridors, their eyes clouded with tears, their hearts heavy with the weight of loneliness.

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What pains me the most is when they come to us, desperate for medical attention, but unable to afford even the basic necessities. A ticket to the hospital, a prescription, a simple test – all these seem like insurmountable hurdles to them.

Although the government provides free treatment, medicines, and tests at health and wellness centers for many diseases, certain medications and tests still require private facilities.

As healthcare providers, we have a choice to make. We can choose to follow protocol, to turn them away, to scold them for not having the means. Or we can choose to empathize, to understand, to go beyond the call of duty to help them.

I firmly believe that it is our duty, as doctors, to do more than just treat illnesses. We must treat the human being, with all their complexities, their struggles, and their stories. We must be willing to listen, to comfort, and to care.

In our pursuit of healing, we often forget that our patients are not mere statistics or case studies, but flesh-and-blood individuals with stories, struggles, and hopes. As doctors, we have the power to make a tangible difference in their lives, to bring solace, comfort, and healing.

As I reflect on my experiences, I am reminded that our profession can be a sacred calling, a guarantee of a higher purpose, only if we approach it with empathy, humanity, and a deep sense of responsibility. Let us strive to be healers not just of bodies, but of hearts and souls.

 Dr Mohammad Younis Dar is a Medical Officer, JK Health Services