Healthcare for migrants in metros is a significant challenge, particularly when it comes to finding reliable doctors for serious issues. While platforms like Practo and Google Reviews are helpful for minor ailments (like viral fever or stomachaches), they often fall short in serious cases. Reviews can be unreliable, and people rarely trust them for life-impacting decisions.
The Problem with Doctor Discovery
Many individuals I spoke with rely on:
- Social Groups: Office or society groups, though people hesitate to ask for serious referrals.
- Known Hospitals: Visiting a branded hospital, which might not guarantee the best doctor for a specific issue.
Despite earning enough to afford good healthcare, people often resort to trial and error to find trustworthy doctors. Even finding a good gynecologist, for instance, has been challenging for some of my friends.
After speaking with over 25 individuals, I realized the problem extends beyond doctor discovery:
Post-surgery care: After a surgery, there are a lot of unknowns. Some doctors won’t do tele consultation, and hospitals push for unnecessary in-person follow-ups.
Second opinions: For critical issues, everyone wants to double-check, but good doctors are hard to find on short notice.
Unclear Prescriptions: Patients at times struggle to understand medical instructions.
Inadequate Chronic Care Guidance: Doctors sometimes give generic advice, like “control protein intake,” without tailoring it to a patient’s lifestyle.
These issues may seem small in isolation but are overwhelming during crises for patients and their families.
Call to Action
Doctor discovery and pre- and post-treatment care need innovation. I’d love to hear from anyone who has faced similar issues or has ideas to address these challenges.
- Have you faced similar challenges with finding good healthcare?
- What solutions worked for you?
- What would you want from a service that could help with these issues?