Infertility Business in a Fertile Land

Mr. R and Mrs. K (names changed) traveled a long distance from a remote part of Kashmir to seek health guidance. During our interaction, I noticed that multiple psychiatrists had rightly diagnosed them with Major Depressive Disorder. As I took their case history, I wondered how such a well-educated and financially stable couple, both earning handsome salaries, could be struggling with severe depression. They looked so weary that anyone might mistake them for laborers working in a brick factory.

I learned that the husband, due to certain health conditions, is unable to father a child. In their desperation, the couple had visited numerous doctors and traditional healers, not just in Kashmir but in places like Amritsar and Mumbai. While most doctors in Kashmir gave them sound advice, they fell prey to a few quacks who falsely claimed to be “hakeems” or “Bengali babas.”

For six months, they visited these so-called healers, who charged ₹800 per visit and gave them “herbal medicines from the Himalayas.” When no results came, they finally stopped going. Unfortunately, their ordeal didn’t end there. They were drawn to online advertisements for so-called infertility experts who regularly visit Kashmir from outside the region. These “experts” dismissed all previous test results, even those from reputed hospitals like SMHS and SKIMS, insisting that new tests be conducted in Delhi. The couple was also encouraged to stay in nearby hotels, paying hefty sums for their accommodation.

This is not medical treatment; it is exploitation. How can quacks set up in hotels and lure desperate patients with false promises of curing infertility, cancer, and other serious conditions? In Kashmir, people spend huge sums of money chasing these “magical cures.” This fraudulent business extends to treating common ailments like joint pain, diabetes, asthma, and jaundice.

Has anyone investigated these quacks? Their treatments not only lead to financial ruin but also cause severe health complications—such as secondary depression, life-threatening conditions for diabetics, and worsening of asthma, gallbladder, or kidney problems.

As a society, we must unite against these unethical practices to protect innocent patients.

My Advice

As a younger brother to all such patients, I urge you to understand that our health is deeply influenced by our thoughts, emotions, relationships, and behavior. Good health requires a balanced lifestyle, proper care of our mental and emotional well-being, and healthy communication.

Chasing unrealistic cures and succumbing to fear only worsen our health. Prolonged fear and dejection can lead to physical and mental illnesses, including heart problems, depression, and anxiety. Fear manifests in many ways—anger, addiction, arthritis, asthma, memory loss, digestive issues, and more.

If we wish to avoid or manage illnesses, we must learn to overcome fear and accept life’s ups and downs as natural. Instead of searching for miraculous solutions, focus on realistic, evidence-based care and maintain a positive outlook on life.