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When medicare is business, not service
The over-commercialisation of the medical sector is the root cause of exploitation of patients in the private hospitals (article captioned “Patients or victims?” and the editorial “Medicare as commerce”, Nov 4). Even those private hospitals that were allotted land at concessional rate by the government with a stipulation that a certain number of poor people will be treated free are not above reproach. That apart, most of the private medical practitioners are prone to making fast buck through high consultation fees and other malpractices. Medicare has, therefore, become a business rather
than a service. To make it sure that medicare is accessible and affordable by people, the government must see that its rickety and overstretched public medical sector gets infusion of substantial funds and that a tight rein is kept on the private medical hospitals . Good health of the nation is paramount for the prosperity and development of the country. SATWANT KAUR, Mahilpur
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II The patient does not go to corporate hospital willingly, rather, he is forced to go there because our public health care system is not good. It has out-dated infrastructure and insufficient number of doctors. The common man pay taxes, but for what, if even health care is denied to him? GURNAM SINGH RATHORE, Khanna Medical allowance Central government pensioners are paid a meagre sum of Rs 100 as medical allowance, whereas state governments like Haryana and Punjab are paying Rs 500 and above to their pensioners. The doctors charge Rs 150 and above as consultation fee for a single visit. Conveyance charges and the cost of medicines are in addition. So, the government must raise their medical allowance to Rs 1,000 at least. KULDIP PRAKASH VINDLAS, Ambala Cantt. Surrender in Karnataka Birthday gift to Advani? No, the party’s decision in Karnataka may prove to be the last nail in the BJP’s coffin. It is a compromise at a huge cost. The BJP has surrendered its principles to the money bags and blackmailers. The Reddy brothers wanted to have their own way and they had it. This is only the beginning of a serious crisis that may engulf the party sooner than expected. Instead of the present formula of compromise which leaves the Chief Minister neither here nor there, it would have been better for the battered BJP to let the government fall. It was a chance to retrieve its dwindling prestige. Alas, the opportunity to instil discipline has been thrown away. Along with the beginning of the demise of the BJP, it is a great loss to democracy. In the absence of a strong opposition, democracy can turn into an arbitrary one-party rule. RJ KHURANA, Bhopal Improve batting The cricket lovers of India are unable to understand how a second strength Australia team, without Michael Clark, Nathan Bracken, Brad Haddin and with the mid-series exit of Brett Lee, James Hopes, Peter Siddle, Tim Paine and others, became more than enough for star-studded Indian team. How did India allow the visitors to take an unassailable 4-2 lead? This is because Australia did not rely solely on players like Sachin Tendulkar with many world records, but had plenty of match-winners in their squad. It makes no difference whether they are second-rung cricketers or regulars; they try honestly and are more committed, more hungry to perform. To improve the performance of Team India, the BCCI and the selection committee must improve the batting consistency of our top batsmen. Our bowlers should also perform well. They should remember that their mediocre bowling throughout the current series cannot bring the World Cup. The BCCI should select at least 25 players for the country and give them remuneration accordingly but they should be barred to play in IPL and other money-earning tournaments. BIDYUT KUMAR CHATTERJEE , Faridabad
Decreasing interest
The rapid decrease in the rates of interest on all kinds of fixed deposits in various banks in 2009 (from Rs 10.50 per cent to 7 per cent per annum) is a matter of concern for all senior citizens and retirees who depend on the income earned through interest on their investments. How will the retirees make the two ends meet with their income of interest being reduced by the banks? So, the rate of interest on fixed deposits in the name of citizens above the age of 65 years should be fixed at 10 per cent per annum. SOHAN SINGH
DHAULTA, Dhar, (HP) |
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