L E T T E R S    T O    T H E    E D I T O R

Private medicare is driven by profit

I appreciate The Tribune’s effort to expose the not-so-hidden facts about the ills of private health care through the series “Patients or victims?” by Chitleen K Sethi and the editorial “Medicare as commerce” (Nov 4), rightly stressing the need to regulate the private health sector.

It is also important to explore the reasons for such a sorry and inhuman state of health care. Liberalisation and free-market economy have created a situation where medicare has become a commodity. The Indian health care sector is ailing because of meagre public spending, profit-oriented policies, unregulated and ineffective drug policy, unregulated private sector and lack of monitoring by the Medical Council of India. There is a tremendous need for a larger and more effective role of public service in health care and education.

I think excessive commercialisation of medical education and care has paved the way for proliferation of unethical practices. Unless, there is a radical shift in the health policy towards strengthening the public health care system and regulating private health care, health care will be increasingly treated as a commodity rather than service.

Dr VITULL K GUPTA, Bathinda

ANGAD SINGH, SAS Nagar

Karzai vs Abdullah The US trusted Hamid Karzai a little too much (editorial, “Karzai the gainer: Abdullah’s tactic to be in power fails”, Nov 3). But they had no choice, as there was no one else whom they could trust. Mr Karzai represents the Pushtuns, which are traditionally anti-Northern Alliance. But, he has proved to be too soft on terrorists. Lately, the US and the NATO forces have been unhappy with Mr Karzai. Some of the US allies have started preferring Dr Abdullah Abdullah, the most charismatic leader of the Northern Alliance, to Mr Karzai. Even at the recently concluded elections, Dr Abdullah fared very well, but the election machinery is totally subservient to Karzai and made sure that he has a clear edge. Dr Abdullah feared that even after the election run-off, the election machinery was going to ensure Dr Karzai’s victory. In utter frustration, he withdrew his candidature. Things will not be easy for Mr Karzai too. He will have to change his laidback style. If he fails to deliver, he will be in a soup. Dr Abdullah may be down now, but he is not out.  HARJAP SINGH AUJLA, New Jersey, USA

Women’s might

Even today there are few women in Parliament and in state assemblies and the male chauvinist view continues to prevail in the male dominated society (middle, “Woman, thy name is might” by Ashok Kumar Yadav, Oct 16). Punjab and Haryana in particular have earned notoriety for having a poor sex ratio. I appeal to women celebrities to come forward and launch a crusade against female foeticide. The time has come to rise against all those who continue to berate the contribution of women in society.

BHARAT HITESHI, Panchkula

Elderly need care

In the mad rush to settle in a foreign country, children have forgotten their parents. The greed of earning money has made them indifferent, if not outright cruel, towards their parents.

As a result, parents are forced to live all by themselves with no one to take care of them. In many cases, the ailing parents die and their children return only to stake a claim on property. The younger generation must not forsake parents, especially at an age when the elderly need them the most.

Dr KAMALJEET KAUR SEKHON, Patiala

Democracy’s triumph

First the Lok Sabha elections and now the Assembly polls in Haryana, Maharashtra and Arunachal Pardesh mark the triumph of democracy in India. The free and fair holding of elections has strengthened democratic practices.

For this the credit goes to voters, politicians, the media and the Election Commission. The US must give due regard to the world’s largest  democracy.

GURMIT SINGH SAINI, SAS Nagar