An Indian doctor who previously worked with the NHS in the UK has drawn attention on social media after sharing her experience of being able to obtain medicines for her unwell husband late at night in India.
Dr Deepanjali Sharma shared the experience in an Instagram video while driving to get medicines and injections for her husband, who is also a doctor and had suddenly fallen ill.
A late-night search for medicines
According to Sharma, her husband developed a headache during the evening and later began vomiting repeatedly.
She said she was able to leave home at around 10 pm to obtain the medicines and injections he needed.
Reflecting on the experience, Sharma said the situation made her appreciate what she described as the accessibility of medicines in India.
Her experience of healthcare abroad
Sharma compared the experience with what she believed could happen in the UK and other Western countries.
She said that even as a doctor and certified clinical practitioner, accessing medicines for a family member could involve a longer process, while emergency departments can also be heavily burdened.
Her comments were based on her personal experience and were not presented as a comparison of every healthcare situation in India and the UK.
‘Living abroad is not a bed of roses’
Sharma used the incident to challenge the perception that moving abroad automatically means having an easier life.
She said people often focus on the shortcomings of India without recognising the difficulties that can come with living overseas.
In the caption accompanying her video, Sharma acknowledged that India has several areas that need improvement. However, she said people should also recognise the things that work well and appreciate the privileges they experience.
Her message strikes a chord online
The video has attracted attention because it presents a familiar everyday experience from a different perspective.
Sharma also acknowledged that not everyone may have the same access or circumstances. Her message, she said, was primarily about sharing her own experience and appreciating certain aspects of life in India.
Her comments have since sparked discussion about healthcare access, life abroad and the everyday conveniences that people may sometimes take for granted.