Cell 2 Soul: The Humane Health Care Blog

His Inner Life

They discuss his existential pain

Luh Ketut Suryani and Nova Riyanti Yusuf: Fighting for Indonesia's Mentally Ill

Around 25 years ago, I met the Balinese anthropologist and psychiatrist, Dr. Luh Ketut Suryani. She went on to establish the Suryani Institute for Mental Health in 2005, because, she said, “A large number of mentally ill people in Bali are essentially abandoned, permanently kept under restrains, chained or in makeshift cages by their families, or community (pasung).”

The NY Times “Saturday Profile for October 21, 2016” is devoted to Nova Riyanti Yusuf’s life and work. Dr. Nova’s passions and experiences run parallel to Suryani’s.

Indonesia spends less than 1 percent of its total health budget to mental health, uncommonly low even compared with other lower middle-income countries. It has only about 700 trained psychiatrists, roughly one for every 350,000 citizens.

Drs. Nova and Suryani have devoted their lives to improving the care and living conditions for Indonesia’s mentally ill. Pause for a moment to honor these two visionary women.

Dr. Luh Ketut Suryani

 

Dr. Nova Riyanti Yusuf

 Here is a German language You Tube on "Bali's Dark Side."  (Unfortunately, I can't find a copy with English subtitles, but the film can be viewed and appreciated even with the German narration.)

La Maladie du Petit Papier

These are lists—of purported ailments and symptoms—carried around by a patients to share with their care-givers. We adapted this Roz Chast cartoon to illustrate what can happen to list makers.

Reference
Elpern DJ.  La Maladie du Petit Papier J Am Acad Dermatol 2007;57:170. Download Maladie du Petit Papier

 

 

Patients Prove Profitable

When is it ethical to design a health care system that caters to those who can pay? 

An old Yiddish proverb runs:  "If the rich could pay the poor to die for them, the poor would make a very good living."

Khawar Mann, OBE, a venture capitalist with the Abraaj investment group, travels around Africa scoping out hospitals to buy that seem likely to provide good returns on investments.

Private health care has been an interesting model in the U.S. which lags behind all other developed nations in outcomes.  So why is the American system now envisioned as a viable model for Africa?  Will this not just serve to widen the "health" gap between the rich and poor?

Mr. Mann says: "“Nairobi is a sweet spot for us. There is a big population that is growing. You have emerging middle incomes. And there is a massive need for health care.” (for those who can afford to pay in cash).

This in-depth NY Times article gives one much to mull over.

Tom Brokaw on Myeloma

October 2, 2016 New York Times

"For most of my adult life I have answered the question “Occupation?” with one word: journalist. I still do, but now I am tempted to add a phrase.

Cancer patient."

So begins this eloquent essay on Mr. Brokaw's myeloma.