Genuine health care for domestics

A few days ago, we sent our Indonesian maid to a government clinic. She had gone to check her blood pressure, and refill her prescription. She also mentioned to the doctor that she has been suffering from a bad toothache and inflamed gums. Now, I am not a doctor, but I believe the logical thing would have been for the doctor to tell her: “Take some pain killers, but I advise you to see a dentist”. Instead, the honorable M.D. prescribed anti-bacteria mouthwash, and told her that was all she needed! When our maid came back home and showed me the mouthwash, I was angry, but neither shocked nor surprised.
In my mind there are two reasons why this happened. First, because the patient is an Indonesian domestic worker, therefore in the eyes of the doctor who is an expatriate from another Arab country, the patient was not worthy of a proper check up. Secondly, this mistreatment and incompetence could occur because she came alone to the clinic without her sponsor. Had one of us gone with her, we would have noticed the doctor’s nonchalant attitude straight away and we would have insisted on a thorough check up.
This reminded me of an incident that took place last year, but I had been passive in my response and later I berated myself for not lodging a complaint with the Health Ministry at the time. Our maid’s husband also works in Jeddah, and both have legitimate Iqamas. She was a few weeks pregnant, but had complained of heavy bleeding. We suspected that she had had a miscarriage. Worried about her wellbeing, I took her to the maternity hospital to be checked by a gynecologist. When it was her turn, I was about to accompany her to the gynecologist’s office. The doctor, also an Arab expatriate, forbade me to. ” I want to speak to her alone first,” She told me firmly. So, I obediently waited outside. Suddenly I heard a loud and sharp reprimand coming from the doctor’s office, and my maid’s weak and frightened reply. Surprised, I went to see what was all the fuss about. Apparently, the doctor suspected a miscarriage, but did not believe that my maid was married. She was berating my maid severely and accused her of immorality and stupidity. I came in and assured the doctor that indeed my maid was married. I asked her what was she going to do to help the sick woman? The doctor sheepishly apologized to me and said, ” She needs an ultrasound, but I’m not authorized to do so.” Somehow I sensed she was not telling the truth. Disgusted and dismayed, I left with our maid without a backward glance. These are just but a couple of examples of such rampant behavior by so-called health care professionals. It disgusted me, because this expatriate doctor behaved inhumanely and unfairly to a fellow expat. A doctor is supposed to serve humanity without discrimination. I was dismayed, that the Health Ministry continues to employ doctors that lack scruples and compassion.
As for our maid, I later took her to see a gynecologist at a private clinic. Therefore I expected her to be treated as any other paying patient. With professional care, decency and humanity. This time she did in fact get the proper diagnosis and treatment. Certainly this should always be the case, whether her sponsor was with her or not, and whether she goes to a public or private health care facility.

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