A Study on Status of Different Medical Systems Used by the People of Bangladesh

Abstract

Health is a basic requirement to improve the quality of life. National economic and social developments depend on the state of health. Medical or healthcare systems are designed to meet the health care needs of target populations. There are a wide variety of healthcare systems around the world. A large number of Bangladesh's people, particularly in rural or slum areas, remained with no or little access to health care facilities. In Bangladesh, the government '1ealthcare system remains a very minor source of health care for rural households. In Bangladesh, slum living has important social and health consequences. The majority described migrated to Dhaka for economic reasons and financial instability. The availability of registered physicians is scare in rural, slum and town areas, and the people, the majority of who are underweight as indicated by body mass index measurement have to depend on pharmacy salespersons, quacks and herbal or spiritual healers. Different people have different choices of medical systems to treat themselves. Some may have different way of thinking to describe the healing process. Healthcare services differ in their philosophy and concepts as to the causes of disease, their approach to healing, methods of treatment, and composition and preparation of medicinal products. Someone like plant products, someone like synthetic and someone wants to heal through diet, exercise and other non-surgical means. Education, financial conditions and belief have significant role on choosing the medical system. On the other hand, rural and slum people sometimes do not buy all the drugs that are prescribed by the doctor for them, partly because of financial constraint. In addition, self-medication is common. To find out the health status and use of the drug in urban, slum and rural areas in Bangladesh, a survey programmed were conducted in four areas namely Dhaka urban, Dhaka slum, Iswhurdi urban and Iswhurdi rural. Firstly, the data was collected from the areas with the help of a prepared sample collection form and, then the analysis of the data and finding out the patients outcomes. The main objective of the study was to know the present health status among urban, slum and rural areas, use of drug in different medical system, lacking in health care units and ensure the proper public health care to them. The present study has limitations since only four areas were considered for the study and thus the results obtained are apparent but not exact for the national picture.