Beyond MBBS: Why health literacy challenge needs more than doctors
The article discusses a significant shift in healthcare access and trust in India, moving from traditional family doctors to online sources like social media. This change has led to a surge in health misinformation, often disguised as user-generated content or influencer marketing, which negatively impacts patient decisions and can defer evidence-based treatments. The author argues that addressing this complex problem requires two long-term approaches: stronger policy implementation against misinformation and improved health literacy at all levels.
Why it matters
This societal shift in how people access health information and make medical decisions poses a critical public health challenge, potentially leading to widespread misinformation and a decline in trust in established medical systems. It underscores the urgent need for robust health literacy initiatives and effective regulatory oversight in the digital age to protect public well-being.
The Indian behaviour around healthcare access has changed quite drastically over the last couple of decades. As people migrated from their home towns to bigger cities, they lost touch with that one family doctor they would refer to for mild fever to emergency call. In the urban set up in the midst of career, aspiration and affordability, daily health took a back seat. People no more refer to doctors for smaller problems. Doctor visits are kept for emergencies. Today, medical advice arrives through Instagram reels and YouTube videos.
The article objectively analyzes a societal problem (health misinformation, declining trust in doctors) and proposes solutions (policy, health literacy) without taking a partisan or ideological stance. Its tone is analytical and problem-solution oriented.
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