Local or imported? - A bit better or fully cured?

Four weeks ago, my friend Govind had his leg surgery in a hospital in Agra after an accident. In January my grandmother Naniji had cataract surgery on her left eye in a hospital in Mathura. When the doctors explained them what they would do, they were both asked a question which I would like to write about today: ‘Local or imported?’

For my grandmother, the question was whether she would like to have a new lens made in India or rather an imported lens. In Govind’s case it was the screws and parts that they placed into his leg to stabilize the bone. Did he want Indian pieces in his body or imported ones? Before the doctor even explains it, the patient already has an idea what the difference is: whatever is imported is better in quality and higher in price.

These two incidents are not the only ones that I know of and it now seems to me that in each and every medical issue, doctors ask the patients this question. How come? Doesn’t anybody feel in the same way surprised as I do and thinks that no person should have to answer this question?

Obviously, everybody would like to have the more expensive option because you wish to have the best for your body. Those however you cannot afford it easily will face a big problem: Should I somehow get the money together and maybe even borrow some so that I have a good replacement piece in my body?

What about those who really cannot afford the expensive version? Who cannot answer ‘imported’ simply because it is way above what they can afford? The eye surgeon explained to my grandmother that the local lenses she can choose cost 4000 and 8000 Rupees while the imported lenses cost 12000 and 16000 Rupees. For the imported lens, the doctor guaranteed that she would not have a cataract problem in her life anymore. If she took the Indian lens, it might happen again.

Can you imagine someone who even has difficulties paying for the surgery taking this decision? Telling the doctor to use the Indian one with the thought ‘Oh, I will get better but not fully fine!’ or ‘The thing they will put in will break again after some time – and I may have to afford this again!’

How come that the Indian product is of such a low quality? Is India not able to produce the same quality? And if not, how come the government does not make it possible with subsidies or other schemes that every patient can receive a high-quality treatment with high-quality equipment?

The same happened when we had our baby girl vaccinated. The pediatrician told us that there was one imported vaccine and one from India, which was considerably cheaper. With the Indian vaccine, the baby might get fever and some pain which would not happen with the imported one. Obviously, we chose the imported one for Apra – and saw that all parents before us had done the same. Who would like to choose fever and pain for his child? But some people may not be able to pay for the pain-free option!

My main concern is that no doctor should ask his patients and no patient should have to decide this. In my eyes it is morally wrong and it brings unnecessary pain to those who are already suffering.