Corruption in healthcare

Corruption is a major problem in healthcare.

Corruption in healthcare is a major problem in the nations of the former soviet union.  There are many reasons for this, however none that are insurmountable.  My masters' tutorial group chose the topic of healthcare corruption for our presentation.  Your thoughts on the presentation are most welcome!

Corruption in healthcare

Corruption in Healthcare on Prezi

Why is there corruption?
No nation is immune to it, however some health systems are unfortunately afflicted by it more than others.  Ultimately it boils down to the problem of the human heart - putting perceived personal interests above those of others (and of God).  Christians we can be shining lights in this field, showing that corruption needn't be the only way.  Key in this is remembering:

•  Who we are:
• Romans 3:23 - all have sinned, all fall short of God's glory.

•  Personal accountability & integrity:
• Matthew 7:3-5 - pull the log out of our own eye before others

•  Jesus' sacrificial love:
• Matthew 22:37-39 - love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength, love your neighbour as yourself.

•  We are accountable:
• Luke 16:10-13 - God cares about how we live.
• “One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much, and one who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much. If then you have not been faithful in the unrighteous wealth, who will entrust to you the true riches? And if you have not been faithful in that which is another's, who will give you that which is your own? No servant can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.” 

România - este un loc frumos!

Hmmm, looks like I might be falling in love with another country and her people…  I’ve just had the great opportunity of teaching medical students for a week with an organisation called PRIME (Partnerships in Medical Education).  The uniting theme was that of ‘whole person medicine’ i.e. when you value the patient as a person rather than just the condition they bring with them, you dramatically improve quality of healthcare, diagnosis, treatment relevance, concordance and compliance.  The concept is drawn from the foundational biblical principle in love and service of God, we value and have compassion for our neighbour, regardless of situation.

As a result, I led a diverse range of lectures and seminars on topics such as:

• Breaking bad news to patients
• Identifying and managing depression
• Stigma in healthcare; including alcohol and homosexuality
• Evidence based medicine in practice
• Corruption and accountability in healthcare

These sessions were complemented by further teaching from a colleague specialising in Breast and Thyroid surgery from the UK.  The students were engaged and had many questions from our teaching sessions!  I am thankful for this and learnt a great deal from them too.  I even managed to get a few laughs and at one point a round of applause – something greatly unexpected.

During the afternoons  I had chance to learn from a series of sessions aimed at teachers within the medical school on methods of teaching medical students.  Again the PRIME principles of ‘whole person medicine’ were the foundation – whole student teaching?!?!  I think around 20 different teaching means and styles were covered, all applied with a mixture of theory, practice and discussion.  I again learnt a great deal from the chance to work with several wise and experienced colleagues from the UK, being privileged to share in their thoughts, preparations and actions.

And as for Romania, her culture and people…  The warmness of the welcome was pretty extreme!  We were very well looked after and supported.  I’ve made some good friends and had chance to experience a culture unlike those I’ve been to before in Eastern Europe.  The food is good and language pleasant to listen to (and sometimes even comprehensible).  As the name suggests, it’s latin-based – perhaps you can guess the meanings of: bună seara, merci, and adio?

The last thing to perhaps say, it that Transylvania is not a scary place (apart from the all-enveloping fog!).  Give it a try!

Belarus - the void between ideals?

Belarus - the void between ideals?

Belarus (aka white Russia), is a country in Eastern Europe, bordered by the EU to the west (Poland, Latvia, Lithuania) and the Russia/Ukraine to the East.  It's boundaries have fluctuated massively over the centuries with its people coming under successive empires and conquests.  It lost a quarter of its population during the Second World War, with 90% of its capital city, Minsk destroyed.  It became part of the Soviet Union until its dissolution in 1991.  Over the past 18 years it has had one leader, Alexander Lukashenko, who has ruled the country through the surrounding economic and political instability of the 1990s and the increasing international isolation of the 2000s.  To be frank, western media rarely portrays Belarus in a positive light.  The US government called Belarus, "Europe's only remaining 'outpost of tyranny' ".  The BBC was recently allowed an interview with the Belarussian leader - a summary can be found here.  When describing Belarus the BBC states:

Two decades later (after FSU collapse), the sense of national identity is weak, international isolation continues and the nature of political links with Russia remains a key issue. 

Thus the stereotypical image of Belarus, is that of a grey, centrally planned ongoing 'soviet-style' dictatorship, lacking in freedom, opportunity and fairness. However, beyond the portrayed stereotype, very little is known by those in the UK of the people of or indeed life in Belarus.  I am very grateful for the chance to have had a visa, giving me the opportunity to explore the nation of Belarus and meet the people who live there.


Learnings from Belarus

1. Lukashenko (the president) is not unpopular.

2. Belarussians view their country as a young country, that is bound to make some mistakes as it develops its own national course.

3. The country and its infrastructure are surprisingly modern.

4. The countryside is beautiful.

5. There seems to be relative freedom in expression, so long as you remain inline with the law (sometimes tricky) and don't organise activities to overtly criticise the ruling party.

6. Many Belarussians are confused by the EU's stance of isolation towards their country.  Ethnically, historically, culturally and linguistically Belarus has many ties with Russia.  It's not a case of choosing to align oneself towards one or the other. Belarus falls under both European and Russian spheres.  'Narrow-mindedness' may in fact come from the West in failing to recognise this.

7. Minsk central MacDonalds was recently demolished to build a new library for the university.  The other MacDonalds remains on Lenin Street however...!

8. The believing church is active, dynamic and growing in Belarus.

9. Don't flush toilet paper - it is for the bin next to the toilet.

10. The roads in Belarus are really good - the best I've seen in the Soviet Union.

11. They value their environment and have quite a few natural parks - 'how were we to survive, if it were not for the blueberries and mushrooms?'

12. Hyperinflation means the amount you can take out of an ATM is limited by the width of dispensing slot.

13. Belarussians are friendly, inquisitive and full of ingenuity.

From Russia with love...

So after flitting my way around Eastern Europe for several years, I've finally made it to Russia.  The process has been epic and not something I thought I'd be able to arrange myself.  However, by grace it has been achieved and by grace I managed to see some great sights, meet with some great people and learn a huge amount about the fascinating and awe inspiring nation - it makes up a ninth of the world's landmass!  Unsurprisingly, I still feel like I've only just scratched the surface.

So, here are my initial thoughts and perceptions from my trip - things I hope to build on with time!

1. Russia is huge and is to some extent its own world

2. No smile does not mean no like

3. Russian history is a very complex beast

4. People have the same fundamental yearnings and desires regardless of nationality

5. The concept of an 'ideal' government is not objective

6. Our view of the world is shaped through the lens of the media

7. Night trains are a fun, convenient and comfortable way to travel long distances and meet new people

8. The concept of milk with tea is a non-starter. Mixing Smetana with tea causes mass dismay.

9. The dress code for Moscow is black.  For St Petersburg it's a flat cap.

10. Due to depth, the escalator for the Metro can take several minutes.  If suspecting imminent nuclear war, head to the metro.

11. Always complement the Russians on their fountains

12. Saturday is wedding day.  Arrive at tourist sites early to avoid the wedding crowds.

13. Russians are very very good hosts!!!

Большое спасибо мый русский друзьями, россия очень красивый стран. мне нравится это очень. Слава богу!