Field Experience Critique
During my stay in India, I had the opportunity to go on many excursions and I learned so much from each one of them. However, the three excursions that I will be discussing in this critique follow the main theme of healthcare systems and facilities previously discussed in my Lecture Critique.
The first medical care facility we visited was the Public Health Research of India (PHRII), we received a tour of the institute and were able to see how medical research is conducted. The institute consisted of laboratories, discussion rooms, and offices, but it also felt very welcoming and intimate, like a home—it had a kitchen, and a bedroom for interns, and the staff all seemed very close. PHRII tries to make healthcare as easily accessible for women in the area; they are mostly funded by donations. This is a voluntary health agency, meaning PHRII falls under the secondary level of the healthcare system pyramid previously discussed. Comparing this to a healthcare facility at the primary level, for example, some differences could be seen.
​
Following this excursion, we also went to a cervical cancer screening site located in the rural town of Halebeedu. Although this site is an extension of PHRII, since it is located in an area with a smaller population there is an ASHA for the village. Therefore, this healthcare center could be considered at the primary level of the pyramid.
On this excursion, we also explored a primary care center for women that was currently under construction, their goal was to provide women with any basic healthcare needs questions, or concerns at the facility. Although the center seemed small, it was adequate for the population size. Also, relative to the population size of the village, there was a government building located near the primary care center. The staff at the government building explained to us that they were in charge of resolving any issues pertaining to road, water, or electricity. And, just like the primary care center, the number of government buildings was also dependent on the size of the village and if the village grows then the number of primary care centers and government buildings would grow as well to meet the village's needs.
​
Back at the cervical cancer screening site, we were given a tour. The site consisted of one room in which the cervical cancer screening is done and all measurements of height and weight as well as filling out forms were completed outside before going into the room. Inside the room, there was a bed and some medical equipment, but not in abundance as seen in a tertiary-level healthcare facility, such as the (JSS) Jagadguru Sri Shivarathreeshwara Medical College and Ayurveda Hospital.
​
JSS Medical College and Ayurveda Hospital would be at the top of the healthcare system pyramid, the tertiary level. Many of the lectures were taught at the JSS Medical College and some of the excursions were located here too, such as the Naturopathy site and the Ayurveda Medical College and Hospital. We were given a tour of each of these sites and facilities, and they all had an abundance of space, rooms, equipment, and medical staff on site. The technology they used was also more advanced in comparison to a primary or secondary-level medical facility. Also, the methods used to detect cervical cancer may be different from a healthcare facility located at the primary level to a tertiary level. For example, at the cervical cancer screening site, Dr. Vijaya explained to us that cervical cancer can be detected by applying a cotton swab with vinegar to the cervix and if the spot observed turns white then there is a presence of precancerous or cancerous cells. However, this test may not be conducted in all healthcare facilities such as medical colleges or district hospitals at the tertiary level.
​
Hence, the lecture about the healthcare systems pyramid was important, but visiting these different medical facilities in person was also an essential component of learning about India’s healthcare system because we were able to better visualize the pyramid by comparing and contrasting primary, secondary, and tertiary level healthcare facilities and their practices.