When does the waiting time for Healthcare Services become Devastating?

Canada has been lately in news for their lack of timely healthcare services and this unfavourable development has also been reported from its neighbour, the U.S. The delay in offering timely medical care is due to several factors, but the main reason is the lack of enough facilities and professionals to cater to huge masses of patients.

The waiting period is a very common terminology in the healthcare sector. It is the amount of time an individual spends waiting to receive proper healthcare services. From scheduling an appointment to receiving treatment, today, patients have to wait for a very long time to get the right treatment for their illness. 

Some of the time-consuming processes

Individuals seeking emergency medical treatment have to wait in long queue for a specialist’s appointment.

The tests for diagnosing ailments can take up to weeks to get completed.

The waits are extremely long for organ transplants

Long waits to book an operation

Devastating effect of long waiting periods on patients

Doctors are supposed to offer medical assistance to patients within 30 minutes of their arrival at the hospital or clinic, but at many centres healthcare wait times extend for several hours. Long waits for healthcare services can lead to the following adverse effects on patients -

Delay in diagnosis of an illness

Can lead to deterioration of the health

Additional expenses

Patients may give up on seeking treatment

Psychologically taxing. It can create anxiety and stress in individuals

Mortality

Causes of long waiting periods for medical treatment

Incompatibility in supply and demand

Complex procedures for accessing care and reimbursement

Use of outdated technology for scheduling

Geographical and financial constraints

Incompetent medical professionals

Going abroad for medical treatments

Medical tourism has gained immense popularity over the years and this is mainly due to the fact that some countries offer quick access to the best medical treatments. India has been the front runner in offering quality medical care to foreigners. Medical assistance in India is the best because patients can meet up with highly qualified doctors without long waits. The government offers quick visas for individuals travelling to India for seeking medical care.

People from all over the globe find medical treatment costs in India very affordable and of top quality. In fact, studies show that in India the medical costs are 30 percent fewer costs than in the western countries. The country has several modern healthcare facilities which house experienced medical professionals with various specializations. The technology is cutting edge and these facilities offer immediate treatment for heart attack, cancer, organ failure, infertility and other emergency conditions.

Since English is the second official language in India, patients from abroad will not find it difficult communicating the caregivers in India. Being home to 5000-year-old medicine systems such as Naturopathy, Ayurveda, and Yoga, India has made immense advancements in medicine. All of these holistic approaches are equally favoured by foreign patients, along with the modern medicine.

World Thalassemia Day

Thalassemia is blood disorder that occurs due to deletion of major gene fragments that plays a key role in producing the haemoglobin. In some cases, a genetic mutation in the haemoglobin genes also causes this disorder.

Haemoglobin is a molecule of a protein in the red blood cells. In this inherited disorder, the body produces an abnormal form of haemoglobin and it results in inadequate oxygen supply to the muscles.

Usually, parents become the carriers of this genetic disorder. If both parents have this disorder, there are greater chances that the next generation will have a more serious form of this disease.

Types of Thalassemia:

Based on the severity of this disorder, there are 3 main types of Thalassemia.

Thalassemia Minor -  People with this disorder don't actually have any symptoms. However, they act as the carriers of this disorder to next generation. With the lack of visibility of any symptoms, it is not possible to identify this disorder. It makes important for us to get tested if any of the family members or relatives have this disorder.

Alpha Thalassemia–This type has two sub types - Hemoglobin H disease and Hydrops Fetalis.

Hemoglobin H – This mainly affects the facial bones causing over or abnormal growth of jaws, cheeks, and forehead. Additionally, it causes enlargement of spleen, jaundice, and malnourishment by causing poor appetite, especially in children. 

Hydrops Fetalis – This is an extreme condition of the disease that mainly observed in the fatuous in the womb. Most cases, the baby will be either stillborn or dies shortly after the delivery. 

Beta Thalassemia – In this case, both parents would be Thalassemia patients and the disorder will be severe in the next generation. This also has two subtypes - Thalassemia Major (aka Cooley’s Anemia) and Thalassemia Intermedia.

Thalassemia Major (aka Cooley’s Anemia) – This type of Thalassemia is usually so severe and life threatening that the patient may require frequent blood and bone marrow transfusions. The symptoms also including infections, jaundice, poor growth, enlarged organs, and fussiness.

Thalassemia Intermedia – People with this form of Thalassemia don’t require the blood transfusion. The severity is way lesser than Thalassemia Major. However, regular diet and doctor consultation may help the patient to keep health in stable condition. 

Treatment 

The treatment of Thalassemia depends on the form and severity of it. Regular consultations with the doctor help in understanding the form of the disease and hence the treatment. Need to take diet which is nutritionally rich along with the supplements if prescribed.

In the severe forms of Thalassemia, it is advisable not to take food or supplements that contain iron. Human body develops excess iron when the blood is transfused. If the food also has iron contents, there are chances of excess iron in the body which is not good for health.

If any of the above mentioned symptoms are observed in infants below 2 years, or any of the family member has this disorder, the child needs to be taken to the haematologist (Blood related disorder specialist).

If you have Thalassemia, consult a genetic counsellor before thinking of having children.

Severe form of Thalassemia is a chronic disorder and coping with it is challenging. The patient require healthy diet, regular consultations with the doctor and most importantly moral support from the family members and friends.