A Stimulating Conversation
Earlier this week I flew back from Cairo to London Heathrow and had the privilege of sitting next to a very well educated young Egyptian Doctor. As we began to chat, he was kind enough to share with me his views on the world and what’s currently happening in Egypt. The conversation got me thinking about how values can support and restrict our evolution.
Money Confuses Our Values System
He told me a very interesting story about working as a junior doctor in an Egyptian government hospital. Additionally, he explained that they have major staffing problems.
In fact, there’s a very specific reason for this. Newly graduated doctors are frequently enticed to work in hospitals in the Gulf area where they’re paid the same rate in a day the doctors working in Egyptian hospitals receive in a month. Consequently, the choice is an easy one to make.
As a result, government hospitals have the challenge of keeping their medical graduates. Moreover, most of those that stay in Egypt are often working or leading on operations they would be assisting on in other countries.
What’s more, it’s an additional challenge to recruit and keep nursing staff in government hospitals where salaries are very low. Obviously, nurses would rather work in private hospitals where salaries are much higher.
Living On A Shoe String
Furthermore, he told me those same nurses take shifts in governmental hospitals “to catch up on sleep”. This results in doctors working shifts without enough nurses to support them.
So, where does that leave them? In a position where only those who have no real requirement for the salary are working as doctors in Egypt. Moreover, they are forced to deliver substandard service to patients, due to a lack of equipment, support and staff. Frankly, it’s far from an ideal situation.
However, the financial shortage doesn’t end there. Hospitals have no money for basic equipment. For example, babies in intensive care are frequently given dirty masks as there are no new ones available. This doctor told me how he passed by the private hospitals on his way home from work to buy masks out of his own money so he could manage his own conscience at work the next day. Clearly, to me, that’s a demonstration of his value of dedication and high standards.
Broad Perspectives Offer More Choices
Needless to say, it’s a challenge to bring about change. You’ll appreciate I’m sure that when I talk of the doctors who have no urgent requirement for the salary, I’m talking of doctors from wealthy families.
Often, these doctors have studied and worked outside of Egypt and have a painful awareness of the comparison of standards they meet inside and outside of Egypt. Honestly, I can only imagine the frustration.
Values Clash Loudly
During the conversation, I was most interested in the way he expressed his concerns around cleanliness.
He explained to me that medical staff know the right way to work, and yet they are “forced” to work the wrong way. Specifically, the term “forced” relates to two things. Firstly, the lack of funding and secondly, the attitude of older doctors.
In fact, he gave me an example of working in an operating room with a senior doctor who wasn’t wearing a mask. Indeed the young doctor was shocked and disturbed by this. Consequently, the younger doctor reminded the more senior doctor that he wasn’t wearing a mask. This exchange resulted in an aggressive and affronted resistance from the senior doctor. In fact, the older doctor continued to work without a mask. So, that was the end of that.
Clearly, the younger man was merely trying to adhere to hospital policies, however, values interfered in this situation. “It’s not in our culture to disrespect our elders,” said the more senior doctor.
Values Create Strong Emotional Reactions
I could sense the frustration of the doctor as he told me the story. Furthermore, he then went on to tell me how passionate he was about bringing change to Egypt politically. Specifically, he had travelled home from the UK in Feb 2011 to stand in Tahrir Square with his fellow countrymen. Undoubtedly, a passionate man.
However, the story of the senior doctor refusing to wear a mask in an operating theatre triggers a broader for me. If the younger generation can be so passionate about bringing change to their country, and yet are limited based on the respect shown for their elders, will it take a generation before we really see change?
In fact, will their elders be in the ground before the younger generation feels old enough to bring the change they desire to Egypt? As with all of us, complaining and taking no action is really just making noise. However, we can acknowledge that it begins the process of change.
How Will The Situation Change?
Perhaps, at some point, some kind of showdown is required to bring about fundamental change. Specifically, who’s going to tell the senior doctor who doesn’t wear masks in an operating theatre, and potentially doesn’t wash his hands between patients, to change? I wonder who will risk pointing out that this resistant man may be responsible for spreading an infection?
Finally, how many will end up in the morgue with exactly the same thing written on the death certificate. As an aside, and according to this young doctor, nearly every death certificate shows the same cause of death. Interesting, isn’t it?
Therefore, the real questions is “who’s going to take responsibility for convincing those who’ve done it differently for so many years?” What a challenge when the younger generation has evolved in their values to a point of great difference to those values of their forefathers.
Final Thoughts
It’s clear to me that everyone on the planet is working to overcome different challenges in their society and workplaces. Moreover, in some way, we all face this generational challenge. Furthermore, what’s even more obvious is the way in which values can support and restrict our evolution.
In order to realise our full potential, sometimes we have to let go of the core values we learned in our childhood, or at least decide if they’re relevant in our lives now.
Truly, I wish the doctors in Egypt well on their long journey of growth and development. Certainly, their journey requires patience, dedication and commitment. My thoughts are with them.
Are Your Values Supporting Or Restricting Your Evolution
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