Mumbai – An American woman living in India has gone viral after sharing her experience of receiving fast and affordable medical care for a thumb injury, highlighting the accessibility and low cost of India’s healthcare system compared to the United States.
Kristen Fischer, who has been based in India for over four years, posted on Instagram about cutting her thumb while chopping vegetables. With the wound bleeding heavily, she quickly rode her bicycle to a nearby hospital.
To her relief, the treatment took just 45 minutes, required no stitches, and cost her only ₹50 (around 60 cents).
“I cut my thumb, it was bleeding a lot. I rode my bicycle to the local hospital, spent 45 minutes there, didn’t need stitches, paid 50 rupees, and went home,” Fischer said in the video.
She added that she was surprised by the convenience of having a hospital within five minutes of her home, describing India’s healthcare network as “easily accessible and reassuring in emergencies.”
Drawing a sharp contrast with the U.S., Fischer noted that American health insurance premiums typically range between $1,000 and $2,000 per month, making India’s affordable care stand out even more.
“They only charged me 50 rupees for the whole experience. For those who don’t know, that’s like 60 cents. Healthcare is so much more affordable here than in the USA,” she remarked.
Her post has sparked a lively debate on social media, with many praising India’s healthcare system for providing timely assistance without bureaucratic hurdles. Users also shared their own stories of affordable treatments in India, while some pointed out the long waiting times often faced in the U.S. for basic medical care.
With inputs from IANS