I have seen doctors discriminating between educated and uneducated patients. For the former they use the word ‘aap’ and for latter ‘tu’.
As per caste discrimination, I have not seen this kind of discrimination for patients but I have seen patients discriminating against doctors in private hospitals. They see their full name then assess their caste, if the doctor is from lower caste they don’t go and see him because he would have gotten the seat in comparatively lesser marks. The educated population of the patients give these remarks.
In hospitals of Maharashtra, where the patients know Hindi, they still say ‘Marathi mai bolo’.
Every person in a healthcare sector should only be worried about treating the patient and the disease , because that’s what we have been taught. Being a doctor it is in our medical ethics to not discriminate any one based on caste , colour sex or religion. So we should always remember our ethics and work accordingly to make world a better place
I think healthcare should be equally for all. I feel change starts with awareness (like this conversation), and then with sensitivity training for healthcare workers, and most importantly, with each one of us choosing to treat every patient, colleague, or fellow student with equal respect.
If patients feel safe, valued, and understood, half the healing already begins.
One step forward could be training healthcare workers in cultural sensitivity and local languages, so patients feel respected and understood. Creating feedback systems where patients can safely report discrimination might help reduce bias in care. Thanks for touching on this.
It’s a bitter truth, but it’s still happening people with lower caste often faces discrimination , women’s not taken seriously and faces social barriers , LGBTQ+ patients are disrespected and language barriers causes further misunderstanding . We need better training to healthcare worker and better policies to address these issues.
I think two issues stand out here. First, caste discrimination should have no place in healthcare and must be eliminated. Second, language should be made mandatory doctors should either learn the local language or be posted in regions where they already know it. This ensures every patient feels understood and respected.
I personally have never faced such an issue but I have seen my parents struggling to Explain to doctors what exactly they are going through due to language constraint. One way i think such bias can be reduced is by implementing blinded studies where the gender,caste of the patient is not revealed
Yes, it does have an affect over the patient care. I have never moved out of my state for education or professional purposes for a long period of time but I felt it when my brother did. He had to relocate accross the country with which came language barrier. You can overcome any challenge being healthy but when you are not well things get difficult.
I feel there should be stronger policies and systems in place to reduce these barriers. At the same time, I also feel we already have so much advancements that any language can be easily translated yet they are rarely utilised by professionals them during these situations because they sometimes feel they have urgent tasks to do.
Of course, I am not saying that a super-specialist with critical responsibilities should always sit and talk at length. But small gestures like giving 5 extra minutes to patient sitting infront of you to understand them, irrespective of their caste, gender or language they will have lasting impression.
Gandhi Ji said – “Be the change you want to see in the world”
You’re so right @LikhithaReddy these issues often go unnoticed but make a huge difference in how people experience healthcare. Everyone deserves to be treated with kindness and respect, no matter their caste, gender or language. It’s painful to think that anyone would feel scared or ignored when they need help the most.
The first step is awareness just talking about these problems openly. Then, training healthcare workers to be more sensitive and creating spaces where everyone feels safe can really help. It’s important that hospitals become welcoming for all, because health is a right not a privilege.
Thanks for bringing this up. Change starts when we listen and stand up for better care.
This post puts a spotlight on a crucial issue in Indian healthcare the impact on patient care due to numerous social factors like caste, gender and languages. Due to which abundant of people out there suffer and are never considered.
These barriers provoke to patients suffering and ultimately and negative impact on Indians healthcare services which declines the believe to the healthcare professions.
This is such a real issue. Prejudices whether based on caste, gender, or language play out quietly in healthcare. It affects how people are heard, respected, or even treated aggressively or dismissively.
We need more empathy and awareness from every caregiver. Simple steps like offering translators, ensuring respectful communication, and acknowledging cultural context can make a world of difference. Equal care starts with understanding.
This is such an important reminder. Healthcare often focuses on diagnosis and treatment, but dignity and empathy are equally vital. addressing caste, gender, and language biases isn’t just about inclusion. it directly impacts health outcomes. Creating safe, respectful spaces should be seen as essential to patient care, not optional
This happens majorly in government hospitals in India specially in rural settings. Language gaps doesn’t help the patient to communicate well leading to wrong diagnosis of disease sometime. Here the doctor can have basic understanding of the local language. Also healing begins not only with the treatment but when the patient is given love, respect and heard. Small acts make a lot of difference on the body both physically and mentally!
This post speaks a truth that many ignore. In healthcare, every patient should be treated with respect, not judged by caste, gender, or language. Sadly, these biases still exist and silently hurt people. I feel awareness is the first step talking about it like this helps us reflect and change. Doctors and staff should be trained to listen without bias.
In a recent ‘We Believe’ workshop I attended on engendering medical education in Wardha, we discussed how gender and it’s spectrum is highly misunderstood and not thrown light in when teaching medicine, it subtly affects care, shaping trust of patients, communication gaps and almost always patient satisfaction. These are not to be taken lightly in today’s world.
Language has been nowadays a great barrier in communication because of diversity in India and even working in district hospital where even miles leads to change in language which makes it hard to understand the way patient share symptoms. U have to communicate in sign language due yo this issue.. But it can be solved when doctor of same language to be appointed with other doctors.
But caste and gender issue has not been so common in my area
But globally it has impacted lot of areas
Women are not able to share issue clearly and vice versa. And yes, harrasment lead to birth of this issue
I think health care is the place where every human beings treated equal no caste gender or language discrimination should not be encouraged. They should equally treated .this things happens in rural areas they cant able explain about there pain due to language barrier they are not treated well .
