Opinion Battling cancer
In Indias Cancer Gap,Pritha Chatterjee reports on the glaring deficiencies in cancer care in India,contrasting it with the standard of care in the US
Battling cancer
* In Indias Cancer Gap (IE,April 23),Pritha Chatterjee reports on the glaring deficiencies in cancer care in India,contrasting it with the standard of care in the US. Widespread illiteracy and belief in alternative systems of medicine has done more harm than good to patients. Doctors in India face a large number of patients who are unable even to understand the scope of their problems and muster resources for adequate nutritional support. Indias case differs from those of other countries because of the absence of universal healthcare,a specific pattern of tropical diseases and the genetic profile of Asians,which means the outcomes vary from those reported in Western literature.
Dr Abhishek Puri Chandigarh
Crying foul
* Just a few months ago,Team Anna had its finger on the pulse of a nation fed up with corruption. After the Parliament failed to pass the Lokpal Bill,Team Anna lost focus. It has now expelled Mufti Shamoon Qasmi for allegedly recording the proceedings of a core committee meeting (No rift in team over Ramdev,Muslim member: Hazare,April 23). Qasmi has accused the movement of becoming anti-Muslim. His accusations may or may not be true but he must be held responsible for the grossly unethical act of leaking confidential information. If he was not happy with the team,he always had the option of quitting.
Zulfikhar Akram Bangalore
These foolish things
* Apropos Ten ways of being foolish (IE,April 23),if being superstitious is a sign of foolishness,then Western countries are not far behind. A 2006 Barna Group poll found that 73 per cent of Americas youth have engaged in at least one type of psychic or witchcraft-related activity. About a third of the Americans surveyed in a Halloween poll believes in ghosts. Meanwhile,in Britain,it is held that if you sleep with your undergarments below your pillow you will dream of your would-be husband or wife.
Umar Khan Bahraich
Unsung heroes
* While I pray for the safe release of Alex Paul Menon from the hold of Naxalites,I was pained to see that there was very little reportage on the two security men who were killed. Menons picture and background were printed in the paper,but the other two remain faceless. Such apathy and indifference to common people is one of the main causes behind the growth of Naxalism.
M.P. Deshmukh Pune
Guns or bread?
* There was a great sense of triumph at the news that Agni V had been launched successfully. But does this achievement need such celebration? Can this expensive defence system be justified when a large number of our people sleep on an empty stomach and lack the basic amenities?
Balvinder Singh Chandigarh
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