Prevention Is Cheaper Than Cure – But Why Do We Still Ignore It?
Dr. Narendra Palan
Industrial Physician
Ph No: 98206 01529
The saying “prevention is cheaper than cure” is widely accepted, yet many people continue to neglect preventive healthcare.
Regular health check-ups can detect diseases at an early stage, reducing both medical expenses and suffering.
Preventive check-ups are for diagnosing before minor problems or near symptomless problems become a disease or diagnosing diseases before they become irreversible.
Despite knowing this, people often postpone check-ups until a serious health problem arises.
One major reason is the feeling of being healthy. Many individuals believe that if they have no symptoms, there is no need to visit a doctor.
Complacency and the belief that “nothing will happen to me” can lead to postponing health check-ups to tomorrow which never comes.
Unfortunately, several conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, and heart disease can develop silently without noticeable warning signs.
By the time symptoms emerge, treatment may become more complicated and costly.
In my experience I have seen young people having hypertension, diabetes, coronary heart disease requiring Angioplasty with stent/stents, Kidney failure requiring dialysis and till diagnosed, there were no symptoms- directly complications found.
Another reason is fear. Some people avoid medical tests because they are afraid of receiving bad news.
Others worry about the cost of consultations and diagnostic procedures. Ironically, delaying check-ups often leads to higher expenses later when advanced treatment becomes necessary.
Busy lifestyles also contribute to this problem. In today's fast-paced world, people prioritize work, family responsibilities, and social commitments over their health.
Preventive care is often viewed as something that can be postponed, while immediate concerns receive more attention.
Lack of awareness is another factor. They feel if check-up is done and some abnormality is found; I will become miserable. “Ostritch behavioural mentality” leads to avoiding check-ups
I should not trouble the trouble until trouble troubles me.
Many individuals do not fully understand the importance of routine screenings and vaccinations in preventing serious illnesses.
To conclude, preventive healthcare is a wise investment that saves money, time, and lives.
However, fear, ignorance, overconfidence, and busy schedules cause many people to delay check-ups.
Better repeated awareness sessions by health care provider and changing this mindset is essential because caring for our health today can prevent major problems tomorrow.
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