From Mad in South Asia: In a developing nation like India, free medicines (also tonics and injections) and easy access to ‘small doctors’ become highly attractive. When used judiciously by sensitive psychiatrists, these medicines can improve patients’ socioeconomic engagement, reduce symptoms and stigma. On the other hand, evidence also shows that these medicines often serve to suppress underlying issues like domestic violence, poverty, hunger, and social suffering. This leaves one to wonder who is ultimately responsible in such cases. Adverse impacts of medicines are blamed on the patients or written off as side effects, ignoring the social problems at hand.
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