I
had to fight against myself on COVID vaccination, where I should get it administered
it. That is, I was not against the vaccination per se, but statement, if
any, I am making about myself should I opt for a private hospital over a
government hospital or vice versa.
No,
I do not carry any negative feelings about government hospitals or the doctors
and nurses therein. I survived a horrific accident in the early-to-mid ‘90s of
the last century, having been treated at a government hospital. Likewise, in
the year 2000, after a private doctor gave up on me on a medical issue, it was
a doctor at AIIMS, New Delhi, who got me back on track. I have reasons, you
understand, for my soft corner for government medical facilities.
So,
why was I on two minds about going to government hospital for COVI vaccination?
The issue is government hospitals administer vaccination free of cost and
private ones charge, nominal it may be, for the same.
Am I
so busy that I cannot tolerate the bureaucratic procedures and delays that
people warn me about in government hospitals? After all, it has been drilled into
me for a couple of decades at least that private provision of infrastructure is
efficient. Or, do I want to differentiate myself from the masses? More to the
point, when in a tete-a-tete with my neighbour, don’t I want to show my class
by spending for something that was available free elsewhere?
Now,
shifting my internal argument on vaccination at a government hospital, I had
only one point – I am availing government subsidy that I am truly not entitled
to, whatever be the mechanisms. When I shifted to Srirangam from New Delhi, I
applied for and got a ration card for the sole purpose of establishing my
residence address. To this day, for over 31 years, I have had ration cards at
every domicile but not once have I used it for availing government subsidy.
In
fact, I have many years ago posted in my blogspace that when Amma Canteens
were opened under the Chief Ministership of Ms. J. Jayalalithaa, suggesting that
these canteens must have a box soliciting donations from those who are eating
in them when they are not conscientiously entitled to it (no need for others to
point this out). Like most of my blog posts, this too went almost unread.
This
is precisely the argument I advanced against myself to discard the option of
going to a government facility for COVID vaccination. There was, I honestly claim
though offering no proof, no elitism in my decision.
I
went to a private hospital in March of last year. That was when the news on vaccination
stressed the heightened vulnerability of senior citizens (I was 66 years old,
my wife and her spinster sister above 60 years old), when availability of
vaccines was iffy. I spent nearly two
and a half hours, paid Rs. 250/- for each of us, and my commute to the hospital
and back drained Rs. 200/- from my wallet.
For
the subsequent shot, based on the logic that drove my first trip, I went to the
same private hospital and the process took only about half an hour – procedural
speed breakers having been removed.
For
the “Precaution Dose” – this is what VM-NHPSMS names the third shot (no Booster
Shot for them, and I agree – what is being boosted, we are not sure), I
enquired at the private hospital and they informed that now, perhaps because
the emergency is not felt so severely, they have discontinued their service.
I
went to the government facility with no expectations and I was rewarded with
the fastest process, jus 30 minutes for all three of us.
No
cognitive dissonance. No internal conflicts for me on account of going to a
government facility. I do not agree that I am availing a subsidy.
Subsidy
offerings, when it is universal, is no subsidy at all. I am of this school of
thought.
Quite
an un-Neo-Liberal position this is.
Raghuram
Ekambaram
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