In this conversation, you will meet Abdur. Abdur is from Bangladesh and had to travel to India for medical treatment. He still has to pay for the extensive travel expenses out-of-pocket. He experiences the BARRIERS to PUBLIC HEALTH of Financial/Cost of Care BARRIER, Access/Location of Facilities BARRIER, and Health Care Professional Shortage BARRIER.
TRANSCRIPT
Interviewer: An incorrect diagnosis impacted your life for many years. Then, you needed to have surgery in another country and you had to travel a far distance for treatment. Can you tell me about this experience?
ABDUR: Once a year, for three years, I traveled back to India from Bangladesh.
ABDUR: Each 2000 km trip, I had to change modes of transportation from cars, to buses, to rickshaws.
ABDUR: This was very costly because we had to pay for all of the transportation and hotel stays during each trip.
ABDUR: Finally, I had an operation in India.
ABDUR: But, I still have to make this very long trip there for checkups, which I pay for out-of-pocket.
EVIDENCE & RESEARCH
According to the American Hosptial Association,
“Each year, 3.6 million people in the United States do not obtain
medical care due to transportation issues. Transportation issues include lack of vehicle access, inadequate infrastructure, long distances and lengthy times to reach needed services, transportation costs and adverse policies that affect travel. Transportation challenges affect rural and urban communities.”
Location:
Bangladesh
Date:
2022
Barriers to Public Health: Financial Constraints, Health Care Provider Shortage, Location of facilities, Cost of Care, Medical Error
HEALTH CONVERSATIONS: When Aware We Care 