Dissenting Diagnosis by Arun Gadre| Abhay Shukla [rare books]

Book Summary:

Complaints about the state of medical care are increasing in today’s India; whether it’s unnecessary investigations, botched operations or expensive, sometimes even harmful, medication. But while the unease is widespread, few outside the profession understand the extent to which the medical system is being distorted. Dr Arun Gadre and Dr Abhay Shukla have gathered evidence from seventy-eight practising doctors, in both the private and public medical sectors, to expose the ways in which vulnerable patients are exploited by a system that promotes unscrupulous medical practices. At a time when the medical sector is growing rapidly, especially in urban areas, with the proliferation of multi-specialty hospitals and the adoption of ever-more sophisticated technologies, rational and ethical medical care is becoming increasingly rare. Honest doctors feel under siege, professional bodies meant to regulate the medical sector fail to do so, and the influence of the powerful pharmaceutical industry becomes even more pervasive. Drawing on the frank and courageous statements of these seventy-eight doctors dismayed at the state of their profession, Dissenting Diagnosis lays bare the corruption afflicting the medical sector in India and sets out solutions for a healthier future.

About the Authors:

• Dr. Arun Gadre: A gynecologist by training, Dr. Gadre practiced in rural Maharashtra for two decades. He later transitioned to work with SATHI (Support for Advocacy and Training to Health Initiatives), focusing on policy advocacy related to healthcare in India. In addition to his medical career, Dr. Gadre is a prolific writer, having authored seventeen books in Marathi, including six novels, and has received multiple literary awards. 

• Dr. Abhay Shukla: Dr. Shukla is a public health physician with a postgraduate degree in community medicine from the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi. He serves as the Senior Programme Coordinator at SATHI, Pune, and is actively involved in health policy advocacy. Dr. Shukla is also the national convener of Jan Swasthya Abhiyan (People's Health Movement-India) and has contributed significantly to developing frameworks for community-based monitoring and planning of health services.