A Bitter Cup of Tea: Reflections on Healthcare and Technology in India

Weekend mornings often offer a rare, peaceful moment—a chance to savor a cup of tea, unhurried and uninterrupted. For me, this ritual has evolved over the years. I now prefer my Darjeeling tea without sugar or milk, a taste I’ve come to appreciate for its pure, unadulterated flavor. But recently, even this simple pleasure has been tainted, not by the tea itself, but by the troubling realities of our healthcare system.

A cloudy morning before the 2025 budget session mirrored the heaviness in my mind. The tea, once a source of comfort, tasted bitter and hollow. The cause? A series of unsettling events that have cast a long shadow over my weekends.

The Disconnect Between Health Awareness and Accessibility

In today’s world, health consciousness is at an all-time high. People are more aware than ever of what they consume and how they care for their bodies. However, this awareness is often a privilege. The average person in our country struggles just to survive, let alone adopt a health-conscious lifestyle. While the government has made promises to meet the expectations of the common people, there seems to be a glaring lack of a comprehensive strategy to turn these promises into reality.

A Shocking Revelation: Banned Medicines in Government Hospitals

What disturbed me most was learning that, even in 2025, banned medicines are still being administered in government hospitals. This isn’t just a one-off mistake—it continued for over a month, raising serious questions about the effectiveness of our healthcare oversight.

As I pondered this over my morning tea, I found myself searching for evidence of how information technology could help prevent such lapses. Sadly, most government websites are either broken or offer static, outdated information. There’s little to no transparency, and I couldn’t find a single point of reference in the healthcare or drug control departments that highlights the use of modern technologies to safeguard patient health.

The Role of Technology: A Missed Opportunity?

Pharmaceutical companies have Chief Information Officers (CIOs), but their focus seems to be on improving marketing, sales, billing, and logistics. While these are important areas, the issue of counterfeit medicines—a significant problem in India—demands equal, if not more, attention.

India does have laws and regulations for healthcare and drug control, but they are largely reactive. Where are the preventive measures? Where are the proactive protocols that could stop these issues before they claim lives?

Consider this: doctors are only identified as guilty after a patient dies from being prescribed a banned medicine. Hospitals aren’t alerted when such prescriptions are written. Pharmacies don’t generate warnings when dispensing these drugs. Nurses lack tools to check if prescribed medications might have harmful interactions.

The Need for a Smarter System

How complex does a system need to be to prevent these tragedies? In an era where we talk about Artificial Intelligence replacing human roles, we still expect doctors to manually remember a list of banned medicines. This is not just inefficient—it’s dangerous.

Government-issued certificates for each batch of medicine authorise their sale and distribution, but these certifications aren’t publicly available. As consumers, we have no way to verify the authenticity of the medicines we buy from resellers. While wholesalers and retailers might have access to these certificates, is there a system—perhaps utilising blockchain technology—that allows them to verify the legitimacy of these documents?

A Call for Conversation and Action

All of this reflection stemmed from one cup of tea. My friends, perhaps you’re aware of systems already in place that address these issues. If so, I invite you to open this conversation. Share your thoughts, suggestions, and insights over your next tea break.

Because, in the end, it’s not just about a bitter cup of tea—it’s about ensuring that no one’s life is cut short by preventable mistakes in our healthcare system.