Health and fitness are not inside the hospital, but outside it: Dr Sulphi Noohu

Public healthcare is the core of development in any nation. Only a healthy and capable society and contribute to its national development. Expert doctors and medical practitioners discussed the topic of the relationship between diseases and their connection with public healthcare. A Atlaf moderated the session ‘Pani Varumbol Mathiyo Pothujanarogyam’ (Is public healthcare only required during fever?) at the MBIFL '24 venue on Sunday.

Dr V Ramankutty shared his opinions on the idea of public healthcare and the issues connected to it. "The healthcare system in Kerala needs appreciation for tackling the Nipah virus and the COVID-19 pandemic. But still, there are problems within the medical system. We tend to think about the necessity of public healthcare only during times of fever or disease. It needs changing in thought and action," he said. 

Dr V Mohanan Nair explained that food is an important factor that influences medical conditions. "People should have an idea of what's good for their body and life. The entire conceptual ideology needs to be changed. It needs to be deconstructed. Lack of venues for physical activities and lack of interest in exercising affects healthcare and leads to lifestyle diseases. There should be formulations on how to develop the healthcare infrastructure in Kerala," he noted. 

 Dr Sulphi Noohu reminded that we shouldn't think about fever only after it comes but before getting it. "Focusing on the idea that 'prevention is better than cure', should be a vision within the medical field and system. The implementation of long-term goals needs to be prioritised. Health and fitness are not inside the hospitals but outside," he said.

He also explained the connection between money and healthcare in the modern world. "The idea of commercialising and marketing hospitals and healthcare needs to change. An internal assessment is required on what are the aims and purposes of public healthcare for the people. The rate of that growth of development in healthcare needs to be increased," he remarked

Noohu pointed out that the death rate of people by rabies and motor vehicle accidents is much higher than deaths by fever. "We see hundreds of news articles of people dying in accidents and in water resources. No actions are being taken to prevent such problems and issues. While Nippa and COVID are considered public outbreaks and issues, why can't we include lifestyle diseases?" he asked.