SHORTAGE OF DOCTORS PROVING DEADLY FOR PEOPLE

TORONTO, SEPTEMBER 06, 2009  

PLEASE OPEN ATTACHMENT FOR CLASSIC CARTOON 

BY JAVED ZAHEER, FREE EXPRESSION AWARD WINNER 

TORONTO: Medical profession is a highly responsible, respectable and paid one. It takes years of hard & serious study and research for outstanding and genius students to become Medical Doctors/Specialists. People have great expectations from them.  

                Comparison shows that there is a shortage of Medical Doctors in Ontario because of the rapid population growth and alarming increase in number of patients. This shortage could be somewhat overcome if services of those highly experienced doctors who migrated to Canada from the world over and doing odd jobs including cab driving and security could be properly utilized.

Even if not, then policy changes are definitely and badly needed to improve the doctor-patient balance and medical system. Whether the medical professionals suffer or not but the shortage of doctors is proving very challenging and deadly for the patients.

Patients and those accompanying them have to wait for weeks and months for their turn to come. Also, in clinics, hospitals and emergencies, the waiting time is terrible. By the time the turn of the patient comes after long hours of wait, he is shattered and becomes as good as dead.

The medical professional may not lose anything as there is a big rush of patients for him but the patient loses his life and his near and dear ones lose him. 

So the loss of the people is great. It is not only loss of precious time but lives as well. The policymakers need to realize and understand this. It is indeed an important issue which needs immediate attention and highest priority.

They need to lessen the burden of medical professionals as well caused by the shortage. Because of the increasing load of patients on them, they fail to give proper attention and the patients suffer. I have been a victim of such attention, attitude and treatment as well. Luckily God saved me and I am alive to write this today otherwise Dr. Death did his best to put me in the grave.

People have been raising voices and making efforts to bring a change in the policies and system. One such person is Javed Yusuf, a distinguished and leading respectable and responsible member of the society and Pakistani community. He is blessed with great artistic and intellectual skills. He is a good cartoonist as well and regularly contributes in the media to highlight issues and create awareness. His overall contribution is tremendous, voluntary and purely in the interest of the people.

I was inspired by Javed Yusuf’s classic cartoon on `Shortage of Doctors in Ontario’ to write on this very touchy subject---involving precious time and lives of patients and the great pain and suffering caused to their near and dear ones.

It is hoped that Men of Conscience would rise and raise voices to bring a definite change.              

             ---Javed Zaheer, Free Expression Award Winner (NEPMCC---Canada), Desi Idol Recognition Award Winner, Honorary Director of NEPMCC, Veteran Active Member (VAM) of Toronto Press Club, Honorary Editor of English Weekly `Pakistan Abroad’, Chief Editor (Honorary) of English Weekly `The Ambassador’ and ex-Senior Sub-Editor of English Daily DAWN, Pakistan, is contributing voluntarily in the media on purely Honorary Basis in order to serve the people and community with the spirit of community and humanity service. The objective is to make both the media and the community powerful, influential and effective. Contact: (416)696-0981/ javedz@hotmail.com