The episode of Aamir Khan's Satyamev Jayate, a programme screened on Star Plus last Sunday, has invited sharp reactions from the medical fraternity across the state.
The episode on the poor healthcare system in the country specifically focused on the growing "commission business" of doctors, who were prescribing ethical drugs instead of generic medicines so as to get hefty commissions from pharmaceutical companies. The price of generic drugs is much less as compared to ethical drugs.
Aamir Khan, the producer and anchor of the show, had exposed the unethical practices in the medical profession business by bringing some senior doctors on record.
Expressing their outrage on social networking site Facebook, doctors have posted comments against Aamir Khan. One of them said, "We go to Pizza Hut and Dominos for quality, so can you believe Coamoxyclav (generic drug) would be as effective as Augmentin (ethical drug)?"
Another doctor wrote on his wallpaper, "Mr Aamir Khan, not all doctors are greedy and there is no profession which is completely clean. Every doctor and medico is requested to boycott the show till he apologises. Show him the unity of doctors and the real meaning of Satyamev Jayate."
However, some doctors have termed the reactions of their colleagues as uncalled for. One of them, Dr Harvinder, told HT, "Aamir's show was balanced as he applauded the role of doctors like Devi Prasad Shetty, who have made a difference in the lives of thousands of patients. He is just calling a spade a spade and it is not justified to target him for bringing out the truth."
Some organisations have come forward to support the Bollywood actor, saying he had the courage to show the mirror to the professionals who had forgotten the "nobility" attached to medical science.
{{/usCountry}}Some organisations have come forward to support the Bollywood actor, saying he had the courage to show the mirror to the professionals who had forgotten the "nobility" attached to medical science.
{{/usCountry}}Punjab Rural Medical Services Association (RMSA) president and United Doctors' Association of India national convener Dr Aslam Parvez said, "The show did point towards the existing discrepancies in the healthcare system. Punjab too is dependent on private healthcare system and there is a need to strengthen the government's healthcare system with a provision for free medicines at medical colleges, hospitals and health centres."