Blog Action Day- Poverty
Posted on October 15, 2008 by Yael
It’s Blog Action Day today, and the topic we’re putting the spot light on is poverty.
I will talk about poverty from a different point of view, maybe, than what was intended by the good people who took the time to make this day happen.
I was thinking about the best way for me to talk about poverty, as I am ashamed to say- I don’t know enough about the subject.
Then I thought about Chinese Medicine, which in China was for years the only medicine around, and was the medicine for the people.
So let’s talk about that a bit, but before I start rambling about that, I want to send you to a good informative website about poverty- Learn About Poverty.
Medicine in general
I find it amazing that there are people in this world who don’t get the health care they need because they don’t have enough money.
It can be a very basic treatment they need and can’t afford, and it can be a constant care they need, for a chronic condition, which can add up to thousands of dollars a month.
Either way, they can’t afford it.
How many times do we hear about people who don’t get the treatment they need in hospitals because their health insurance doesn’t cover the medications or the procedures they need?
In Israel, we have HMO, but I suspect that due to the regular payments you need to pay each month, those who are poor can’t even afford that basic health care.
Chinese Medicine
For years, Chinese Medicine was the kind of medicine everyone could afford. At least that was the case in China.
The old saying goes- if you’re sick- you shouldn’t pay your practitioner, because he did not do his job very well. Interesting concept, isn’t it?
I think that it is still the people’s medicine in China, but I suspect that in the west things are quite different.
When people who need the help of Chinese Medicine and don’t turn to it because they are short on funds, they put their health on hold. One simply can not afford to go to acupuncture sessions when one needs to figure out how to buy cloths, pay the bills and have something to eat- all in the same month. So the shoulder that has been bothering for the past 3 months will simply have to wait.
Doing things different
Money should not be the reason why people don’t get the health care they need.
Whether it’s Chinese Medicine or Western Medicine, people should have a basic right to get what they need.
Is it possible that some people can not afford Advil?
Is it possible that some people can not afford acupuncture sessions?
I started to think about myself and the practitioners around me, and tried to see how we can try and make a difference:
Trying to make a difference #1
I know one practitioner in Tel Aviv who started a clinic.
His clinic is different. He charges his patients by their ability to pay him.
He saw this in China, and used the model he saw there and applied it in Israel.
Trying to make a difference #2
When I had my clinic, I charged people a certain price.
There were a number of patients who told me that they simply can not afford the treatments, so we agreed on a different price.
Trying to make a difference #3
One of the schools in Tel Aviv opened a clinic for immigrants.
They would charge them very low fees for treatments.
Trying to make a difference #4
My mentor charges a some what high fee.
A friend of mine, who was his patient in the past, hit rock bottom and can hardly afford the apartment she’s living with her family. She needed to go back to treatment very badly.
I talked to my mentor and the minute he heard that she needs his help he told me “tell her to call me”. I told him about the lack of funds and he said “tell her not to worry about it. I will not miss it. If I can help her- tell her to set up an appointment”.
That was about a year ago, and she still sees him, and doesn’t pay, simply because she can’t.
We need more
Practitioners in Israel need to do more.
Practitioners around the world need to do more, and I’m sure there are plenty out there who are doing so much- like the wonderful people in Acupuncturists Without Borders.
Over to you
Please let me know what you’re doing to help out- I would love to know about it!
Tags: blog action day, poverty
Categories: General notes, Personal notes, Practitioners notes, Students notes
I personally use a sliding fee scale. I joined the Community Acupuncture Network and learned about the sliding fee scale and treating people in groups. I don’t have the room or capabilities to treat in a large group, however, that didn’t stop me from offering a sliding fee scale.
The great thing about the fee scale is that I can see people for longer because they can afford more treatments. Sometimes conditions are chronic and need 20-30 treatments weekly. People pay what they can afford and continue to see me.
Great post!
Besides your great suggestions, some of which I use in my practice, I also have been known to barter my services for a wide range of valuable goods and services from food, carpentry, welding, clothes, dentistry, chimney work, art work and massage. Most clients benefit from the energetic exchange that underlies payment, but getting that benefit does not depend on that payment being in the form of currency.
Kenton- GREAT system. I heop more will apply it!
Thanks.
Julie- I feel that this is one of the best ways to go.
I know that there are places in the world who base their lives according to this method, and I feel that it is not bad at all!!!
Good for you.
I used to practice sliding fee scale acupuncture. It’s true more people can afford it, but practioners have to work much harder, and it’s not easy to keep the same service quality.
I wanted to address this post because my mother and I are heavily involved in the this cause. My mother is a nurse practitioner and volunteers 16 hours/week to a free clinic in an urban setting: Diagnosing and giving free samples of medications to those who are disparate to receive it. I am a Surgical Nurse, but I also volunteer at the same clinic. The space, graciously donated by the hospital I have been working for the past 9 years while a distinquished list of donors pay for the month-to-month maintenance (including all supplies). I know that it’s not enough because people who are experiencing the fallout from the current state of the American Economy by not being able to find gainful employment, but if we all have a small amount of free time, there are a multitude of volunteer opportunities crying out for your help. Thank you for bringing this subject up. It is very dear to my heart.
Yael,
I’m so glad you posted this! Unfortunately, when most scholars and health economists look at systems, they merely assess them within the Western modality. Accordingly, they stae that most people cannot afford health care. Yet, they fail to realize that this includes their preferred health care/modality. That said, many systems need to be reorganized to accommodate these basic needs and values.
Within my mentor’s office outside Chicago, we use sliding scale and treat people for free when circumstance requires it. Of course, he also travels to another stat to treat the elderly, funded only by a small church grant. In China, we treat many out of reciprocity on a monthly basis.
When I was interning and apprenticing in China, sliding scale applied. It was not uncommon that someone would enter the clinic and request a home visit for a sick chld or someone who required immediate attention. It didn’t matter what time it was- day or night.
The fact is, many forms of payment were and are accepted and a doctor is not only judged by ability but also sincerity.
On a more personal note, the first Chinese medicine doctor Who treated me and ultimately led me to study and practice used a sliding scale and after a car accident, which rendered me unable to work at the time, she treated me for free. Without those treatments and that encouragement, I wouldn’t be here today.
Poverty like illness affects more than just the person within the particular time and circumstance. It affects the person’s family, loved ones and, indeed, greater society.
Because western medicine is so much more expensive, Hans A. Baer, a prominent medical anthropologist, has also stated that the more a nation invests in it, the fewer people actually receive benefits. His cost beefit anysis contends that the adoption of western medicine actually lessens the number of people the healthcare system and nation can serve. It is a delimiting factor for health of a nation, to that extent.
So, we must also consider where the tipping points are, what is needed and when and how traditional medicine doctors and healers can and do serve as a vital component within the healthcare system. The 1978 WHO Alma ATA based upon China’s Barefoot doctors system realized this. In fact, it was signed by every nation. Regrettably, however, most people don’t realize the tiers of expertise within the Barefoot doctor system and its wisdom. I’m hoping they will again revisit and explore it.
In the meantime, we can only do what we can do, one act, one patient, one tweet, one letter, one meeting, one discussion and even one blog post and/or reply at a time.
Thanks so much for sharing all you do! Happy New Year to you and yours!
Namaste, Debra ??