A few days ago there was an article published in a leading scientific journal about a new strain of bacteria,which it called a superbug,resistant to most high-end antibiotics. This bacteria attributes its resistance to a gene called New Delhi metallo-beta-lactamase,or NDM-1. However,labelling this strain a superbug is inaccurate,when there are many other strains of bacteria resistant to most new-generation antibiotics that are causing as much,if not more harm. Multi-drug-resistant bacteria are bound to develop wherever there is indiscriminate use of antibiotics,even in the developed world. Further labelling it the New Delhi gene and using this to caution medical tourists from seeking treatment in India is irresponsible and misguided.
In recent years,India has become a preferred destination for medical tourism because patients in the West know that they can get a standard of healthcare equal to any hospital in their own countries,at a fraction of the cost. Pharmaceutical companies and for-profit hospitals in the West see this as a threat,but make no attempt to reduce the cost of healthcare or improve its accessibility. New scientific discoveries must be hailed,but to use science as way to discredit a particular country is deplorable.
The writer is a cardiac surgeon and founder of the Narayana Hrudayalaya multi-specialty hospital
