Self-medication complicating pseudo membranous conjunctivitis” by Singh et al described in the words of the patient. The patient had an episode of conjunctivitis 20 days prior to presentation, “for which he had instilled ghee (clarified butter) as well as goat’s milk in his eyes as a remedial measure. Also, he had instilled some antibiotic–steroid combination drops.” His condition had worsened to the point of near blindness before he sought out care at a medical center, where he was diagnosed with pseudo-membranous conjunctivitis and treated appropriately.

One aspect of this problem is Non-Degree Allopathic Practitioners (NDAPs). These practitioners practice allopathy, however very few have any formal allopathic training and by definition, none have allopathic degrees. Some are trained in traditional medicine (for example, the AYUSH practitioners—Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homeopathy) while some lack formal training entirely. For many rural residents in India and other countries, these are the first point of contact for acute illnesses.^[1] This is likely secondary to the inadequate access to appropriate care, particularly in rural areas, with several other confounding factors including illiteracy, insufficient women’s rights, food insecurity and other variables.

This is especially a problem with ophthalmologic problems.^[2] While traditional medicine and traditional practitioners certainly play a role in global health, these delays in presentation can prove costly to the patient and their local community.^[3] It can lead to decreased public health and long-term morbidity and mortality from treatable illness.

Education and proper care play a key role in scenarios like this. Since this patient had a high status in the local community, he is using his experience to help educate others:           

 Being a local village doctor, he has better access and hold over the local populace, and now, following positive outcomes of eye treatment based on the principles of mainstream medicine, he wants to extend the same advantage to others who require help—particularly the blind and the visually impaired in his locality—by bringing them to our secondary eye care centre for treatment and vision rehabilitation. He is now voluntarily spreading awareness among people and of his own accord discouraging the use of home-made remedies for different ailments, especially of the eyes.