| | | DoctorNDTV: Could you describe your typical working day? | | Dr KK Talwar: I work 8:00 am - 8.30 pm. Sunday is usually half day. | | |
| | | DoctorNDTV: What, according to you, are the attributes of a good doctor? | | Dr KK Talwar: Sincerity and dedication to patient care and to follow professional ethical practices. | | |
| | | DoctorNDTV: What has been the professional achievements that has made you most proud? | | Dr KK Talwar: Contribution to initiate and development of new techniques to improve the diagnostic and therapeutic options in some of the cardiovascular diseases viz. Endomyocardial, biopsy for tropical heart muscle diseases, RFablation technique for arrhythmia treatment, implantation of ICD and Biventricular pacemaker in heart function. My contribution in various tropical heart muscle disease has been widely recognised. | | |
| | | DoctorNDTV: Why did you choose your present job? | | Dr KK Talwar: Took it as a challenge to steer the Institute out from its deteriorating state. | | |
| | | DoctorNDTV: What would you have been if not a doctor? | | Dr KK Talwar: Scientist. | | |
| | | DoctorNDTV: Who is the person you admire the most or are most influenced by? | | Dr KK Talwar: Mahatma Gandhi. | | |
| | | DoctorNDTV: What is your opinion about medical training in India? | | Dr KK Talwar: At the moment, there are about 270 medical colleges out of which approximately 150 are in the private sector. Barring very few both in the public and private sector, the training programme in these Institutes is quite dismal. There is lack of good teachers as well as infrastructure. The internship period basically meant for practical training/experience in various disciplines is mainly devoted to preparation for the PG entrance examination. This has seriously affected the confidence and competence for independent practice of medicine of the new graduates. Serious thinking is required to streamline the undergraduate training, the internship period and also to expand the opportunities for postgraduate training programme. At present there are only 10,000 PG seats for 30,000 UG seats. | | |
| | | DoctorNDTV: Does the Indian health care system have any problems? If yes, how would you tackle these? | | Dr KK Talwar: The primary health care facilities in the public sector differs in different states. Some of the southern states viz. Tamil Nadu and Kerala are doing well but in most of the northern states it seems to be in bad shape. Even over the years those has been gradual decline in these services.
The secondary health care is delivered by both public and private sector hospitals in the country. Till the 80s, it was mostly public hospitals,which were the hub of secondary and even tertiary healthcare services. Over the years, the medical care became more complex; the Government hospitals, with few exceptions, have entered the phase of decline. The decline is related to a lack of infrastructure development, inadequate resources and exit of talented professionals because of uninspiring career opportunities and improper remuneration. This was also compounded by red-tapism resulting in frequent transfers. This environment forced good professionals to choose and join the alternative, i.e., private set-ups/hospitals.
Over the years, the public expenditure on health has declined whereas the private sector has invested more in the delivery of secondary and tertiary health care. Over 60% of the 15,393 hospitals and 37% of the hospital-ased beds are contributed by the private sector. It is apparent that because of the continuing decline in public sector facilities, the private sector continues to dominate in the delivery of health care services. In most of the Civil Hospital and Medical Colleges, bed occupancy has declined to 50-60%. In the late 80s-90s, it was only the upper class community,hich had stopped going to the Government hospital as they preferred to have quality healthcare in the hygienic environment of the private sector. But with further decline and lack of facilities in the public sector, even the upper and lower middle class is left with limited choice and is approaching the private sector. Ours is the only democratic country where most of the patients pay for medical services directly from their own pocket. About 30% of the population which is living below the poverty line suffers virtually for non-availability of any quality Public Sector secondary/tertiary facilities in their near vicinity. Whatever is available in the Public Sector is mainly used by the middle and upper classes. The decline in the public sector institutions has also affected undergraduate and postgraduate training programmes thus producing under class professionals and affected medical research.
Thus there is need to strengthen the public sector facilities at all the grades, i.e. primary, secondary and tertiary care so as to provide quality care to all at affordable cost. The Govt. should think of using the concept of Public-Private partnership where ancillary services can be privatised. Further there should be nominal charges for the care from all those who can pay to enhance internal regeneration in the public sector. Those who are poor they should be given free care by some insurance scheme/other poor funds. | | |
| | | DoctorNDTV: Do you think India health websites are useful? Your views about DoctorNDTV? | | Dr KK Talwar: I am sorry I have not looked at the website DoctorNDTV. I will try to look at the same. | | |
| | | DoctorNDTV: Is there anything you think must be done for better health for all? | | Dr KK Talwar: See answer to question - Does the Indian health care system have any problems? If yes, how would you tackle these? | | |
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