One thing that has stood in the gap between onset of disease and late discovery is medical investigations.
These investigations, if undertaken routinely and not just when sick has proven to be of immense value.
This is because, even when we may be feeling okay, these tests could identify hidden problems.
For instance, cervical cancer can be picked up very early by pap smear even while still asymptomatic. This is why pap smear is recommended for every woman of reproductive age.
Digital Rectal Examination, can also pick out a range of pathologies very early and as such is recommended for almost every hospital visit, highlighting it's role in early detection especially of prostate cancer and prostate problems.
Making medical checkups compulsory would definitely come with a lot of benefits.
Many people know the importance of health and are willing to get checked frequently but either lack the time or the money.
Making it compulsory would ensure that they can no longer miss it except they are willing to fall short of the law and ready to face the consequences.
Compulsory medical checkup would also entail holistic testing of all systems and hence almost every disease would be picked up early enough and treatment can commence.
Most times when disease becomes a burden, it is because it was discovered late. With a compulsory yearly check, the chances of diagnosing diseases early would be way higher.
The major problem with this would be the health insurance cover needed to make it work.
It would definitely be too expensive and add to the burden of the common man who is barely surviving.
If the cost involvement can be handled properly by government so as not to become a burden on the suffering masses, then it would be a welcome development.
The diseases which are regarded as deadly in developing countries are not seen as deadly in developed countries but it is not because our bodies are different, no. Rather it is because of early detection of these diseases and appropriate management.
For example breast cancer, which is almost always diagnosed late in developing countries is detected very early in first world countries because of routine mammography and other investigations.
As a result of the early diagnosis, early management is begun and the result is a higher chance of survival unlike in Nigeria where the woman feels a lump and first heads to a religious leader to pray against the disease then goes to a medicine man to get some drugs for the lump before finally proceeding to see a doctor when the cancer has already spread.
Many times, free medical outreaches are organized to screen some of the deadly diseases and yet people are scared to come forth and be tested. Some even think the doctors are doing it for their own gain while others feel their samples would be used for rituals, etc.
Making it compulsory would leave such people with little or no choice than to seek health actively.
All images are mine
