Bhubaneswar: An American filmmaker who fell seriously ill during his visit to Odisha has praised India’s public healthcare system after receiving free treatment at a rural government hospital, saying similar treatment in the United States could have cost him thousands of dollars.
Filmmaker Mike Noone shared his experience in a video posted on Instagram, recounting how he was hospitalised on the fifth day of his India trip after suffering from severe vomiting for nearly 12 hours.
“Day 5 in India and I am already hospitalised,” Noone said in the video, describing how he ended up at a rural government hospital in Odisha, where he received medical treatment despite being unable to understand the language displayed on the walls.
Noone said he had been vomiting every 15 minutes for nearly 12 hours before he was taken to the hospital. He clarified that his condition was not the result of food poisoning but overeating.
“Vomiting every 15 minutes for 12 hours will do that to you,” he said, adding that the food had been so good that he ended up eating too much.
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The filmmaker said doctors at the hospital administered intravenous fluids, anti-nausea medication and two injections as part of his treatment.
While recalling the experience, Noone said he was initially worried about the possible medical bill, having considered what similar treatment might cost in the US.
“As bad as that was, I really winced when I thought about the bill because back home in America, an IV bag, anti-nausea medication and two booty injections could easily cost a couple thousand dollars,” he said.
However, he said he was surprised when he found out that he did not have to pay anything for the treatment at the government hospital.
“Instead, these damn socialists did not charge me one cent! It made me sick!” Noone said jokingly, referring to the fact that he received the treatment free of cost.
The filmmaker’s video has since drawn attention to his experience at the rural government hospital and the accessibility of public healthcare services in Odisha.
