Hello Dr. Kramer,

I appreciated your comments very much. I specifically need to comment on one thought. You said, "The tragedy confronting my profession is that the mantra of "who can do it cheaper, not who can do it better" reverberates throughout our health care system."

That is a tragedy, and I agree with you. You will probably also agree with me that socialized medicine has done nothing towards making a better delivery system in American medicine. And it's probably destined to get much worse. It's impossible to talk to most people about it they "know better." This is probably the chief reason medical tourism grew up in India, and it's all over the Internet as to how excellent it is. The next best, but more expensive, is in Thailand.

The private medicine that's going on in India would absolutely astound you. But for starters, there is very little socialized medicine and I hope India can learn from America's mistakes as well as she has learned from our medical schools, hospitals, fellowships and intern programs. In fact, I think she can.

I notice you're retired. I'd love to welcome you to come to India to have a look, not only at our medicine and health care in general, but to see the Taj Mahal and other enchanting areas of our country. I can promise you one thing. You'll no longer be a skeptic after you have seen what we have with your own eyes. There is simply nothing like it in America or in the world. It only starts with a five star room in a hospital. There is much, much more than that.

To be very sincere, most of your concerns, and programs for contingencies were met a long time ago. You probably recollect how many Indian physicians there were before you retired, and it's much greater now in just the last year. Indians aren't stupid nor do they lag behind. They have forged ahead with the best. Many procedures are here, like hip resurfacing, five years before clinical trials were started in America. The good old Food & Drug Administration started out as a better idea than it has become. But the excellence of after care and simple patient care is better here than in America or anywhere else in the world. No Indian physician working with one of our famous private hospitals is going to allow a patient to go home without being very certain the patient is truly ready and able to safely go home. As I've said before, it's possible for American or other world hospitals and clinics to match the quality of medicine, care and service, but none of them will beat India's price. Currently India is light years ahead of all comers in every single area.

Just as an example, we had a patient here for a Roux n Y Gastric Bypass who several days later developed a bowel torsion some days after the surgery. There was no temperature and blood work all appeared good and normal. Only vomiting. Dr. Sanjay wouldn't take the risk. After careful examination, scans which proved negative, etc., he and his team entered laparoscopically one more time and ... there it was! Rare as it was, his expertise met the challenge and he has it on video -- as are all his surgeries. The patient carries a video home with them. The patient has returned home and is doing very well singing the praises of Dr. Sanjay. And you know yourself that with the best care, most problems will be found on the table than afterwards.

Lastly, there is one more thing that makes Indian medicine so much better. She does understand about malpractice and the costs both in terms of policy premiums and the litigious atmosphere and has simply tried harder. To begin with, there was more empathy and interest in the foreigner than should ever have been expected. It translates itself even to the housekeeping staff, and I'm saying that because so many letters of compliments have noticed.

Once again, Dr. Kramer, do take me up on a visit to India. I'd enjoy showing you around. You would love the trip, and go away with an appreciation that only a first hand experience would provide. By the way, that's why I live here permanently. :) Much as I love my motherland, and I'm a red-blooded American, I've fallen in love with India and will remain until my very last days.

Best regards,

Don Wood, Director
America's Medical Solutions, Pvt. Ltd.
www.americasmedicalsolutions.com

Reply