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‘Spoilt for life’: American vlogger praises Indian healthcare in viral Instagram video
Mackenzie shared her experience when her British partner, Keenan, fell ill during their stay in India.
Mackenzie's video, posted six days ago, has since gone viral, amassing over 6 million views on Instagram. / Instagram/@macnkeen
An American woman on June.30 expressed her amazement at the quality and accessibility of healthcare in India through an Instagram video. Mackenzie, one-half of the vlogging duo UNSTUK with Mac & Keen, shared her experience when her British partner, Keenan, fell ill during their stay in India.
In her video, Mackenzie recounted how a friend suggested they seek basic medicine and conduct tests for Keenan. Initially, she was "very nervous" about the situation. However, she was astonished to learn that patients in India could schedule tests at any time and that a nurse would come to their home to collect samples. "I am going to be spoiled for life in terms of Indian healthcare," Mackenzie remarked in the video.
She compared this with the US healthcare system, where scheduling a lab test appointment can take several days to weeks. She was also surprised by the cost, stating, "It's going to be expensive," before discovering the entire process cost only $14, or around Rs 1,100.
Her video, posted six days ago, has since gone viral, amassing over 6 million views on Instagram. This reaction highlights the growing disillusionment among Americans with their healthcare system.
Robert H Shmerling, MD, Senior Faculty Editor at Harvard Health Publishing, has highlighted several issues in his article titled, “Is our healthcare system broken?”.
He writes: “Despite spending far more on healthcare than other high-income nations, the US scores poorly on many key health measures, including life expectancy, preventable hospital admissions, suicide, and maternal mortality. High costs combined with high numbers of underinsured or uninsured means many people risk bankruptcy if they develop a serious illness.”
He also underscored the uneven access to healthcare.
Similarly, in the UK, Fatme Ibryanova, a UK resident, has experienced long NHS (National Health Service) waiting times, prompting her to seek faster treatment in Turkey. According to reports, over 7.5 million in England await treatment amidst dissatisfaction. Political candidates addressed NHS concerns in the ongoing general election, in which Rishi Sunak lost.
Many social media users shared their opinions on Mackenzie’s video. One commented, “There is a reason all my friends from India go back to India to get their root canals, new glasses, contacts, and annual checkups.” A user from India noted, "Indian healthcare for those who have money is phenomenal. Indian healthcare for those who live below the poverty line is abysmal."
In a similar vein, on July.2 in India, a tragic stampede in Hathras, Uttar Pradesh, claimed over 130 lives due to inadequate medical facilities at the venue. Many victims were reportedly still breathing when brought to the hospital, but the lack of available doctors hindered their survival.
Another Instagram user, Promita Mukherjee, shared a personal experience in the comments: “In 2014, my family and I were in a severe accident in Central India. An ambulance arrived within 10 minutes and provided immediate first aid. My father survived because the healthcare system functioned efficiently even in a remote village which was 150 kms from the nearest city.”
There are a lot of complexities in how healthcare systems are perceived globally and why Mackenzie’s praise for India’s healthcare resonated with so many viewers. She further wrote in her caption, “I guess this is how India keeps 1.4 billion people alive.”
Mac (Mackenzie) and Keen (Keenan) are culture vloggers dedicated to exploring cultural differences and broadening perspectives. They immerse themselves in various cultures by learning the languages, wearing traditional clothing, and living daily life as locals do. Mackenzie hails from the USA, while Keenan is from the UK. Recently, they spent three months in Kerala, India.
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