Manipal: Medical Tourism to improve Indo-Pak friendship ?
Divvy Kant Upadhyay
Daijiworld Media Network - Manipal
Manipal, Jun 26: Relations with neighbor Pakistan have been rough and are far from being pleasant in present circumstances, but areas like trade, entertainment and healthcare always find common support base. Could improved relations in healthcare become a CBM- Confidence Building Measure for the two countries ?
Health Tourism and closer ties between the medical fraternity of the two countries could act as a non-political Confidence Building Measure – this is what Dr Fatema Jawaad and her colleagues Dr Yasmeen Wajahat and Dr Kiran Ejaz agree to. The three doctors hailing from Karachi, Pakistan are attending the Second Asian and Third National Student’s Medical Research Conference at the Kasturba Medical College Mangalore.
The Pakistani trio, who are editorial members of the Journal of the Pakistan Medical Association, took a day’s break to visit the Manipal University campus. Dr Fatema, Editor in Chief of the Medical Journal and Consultant Diabetologist feels that health Education in India is advanced and there are more resources at hand. But while these factors may play a minor role, the students and researchers on both sides of the borders are equally enthusiastic she feels. Her opinion is echoed by Dr Yasmeen who is an Obstetrician and Gynecologist. She says “ there appears to be a slightly more motivation in India towards education and research perhaps due to facilities that are available comfortably, but the desire to excel is matched by both countries”. Dr Fatema observes that both India and Pakistan, perhaps even Bangladesh are losing their talent to the West. “Students, especially those who can afford or desire a better life, take off to the Western Countries” she says adding that “There is a serious need to repose confidence in our students about their national identity”
“If you have growth in areas like Stem Cell Research and other advanced sciences, why should one really want to go out?” asks young Dr Kiran Ejaz after learning about the Stempeutics Lab in Manipal that is producing and researching the roles of Stem Cells in therapy. After completing her MBBS, Dr Kiran opted for a Research career taking up Masters in Epidemiology and Biostatistics course at the Aga Khan University in Karachi. She agrees about the possibility of most students opting to do research “quickly” only to add few lines to their CVs. She feels students ought to be open to suggestions and realize the reasoning behind research.
Discussing healthcare, when asked about the number of Pakistani patients trying to come to India for medical treatment, Dr Fatema feels that doctors have equal expertise in most fields in Pakistan as well. “It’s for some complicated cases like in Cardiac Surgery or Stem Cell Therapies that Pakistanis would opt for treatment in India” she feels though she appreciates the mutual respect shared by the medical fraternity of the two countries. “We have never received a ‘NO’ from our Indian colleagues whenever we have invited them to Pakistan to share their research and Knowledge” says Dr Fatema adding that quite a few papers for her journal are received from India as well.
Enjoying the monsoon rains in the region, the three Pakistani doctors display a slim ray of harmony. Despite the strained relations one wonders if the Indian healthcare network is ready to open its doors for Pakistani patients with moves from the Government to relax visa norms for patients and encouraging exchange of medical research and training across the borders.