Archive · 3 Oct 2026
Doctor's Viral Video Compares Healthcare Access in India, Europe
Dr Palak Bhatt made a video about differences between healthcare in India and Europe.
He said patients in India can sometimes reach a specialist very quickly.
He also said tests such as an MRI and biopsy may happen on the same day.
According to him, test results may arrive within three or four days.
He said treatment could then start within a week.
Bhatt said getting a general-practitioner appointment in Europe can take four or five days.
People online shared stories about waiting for treatment in the Netherlands and France.
The video became popular and received more than 340,000 views.
These accounts describe individual experiences and claims rather than a complete comparison of both healthcare systems.
Indian oncologist Dr Palak Bhatt said European doctors were shocked by his account of healthcare access in India.
Bhatt claimed Indian patients can see specialists, undergo tests and begin cancer treatment quickly.
He gave an example involving same-day specialist consultation, MRI and biopsy, with results in three to four days.
Bhatt said treatment such as surgery or chemotherapy could begin within a week, while GP appointments in Europe may take four to five days.
The Instagram video surpassed 340,000 views, with commenters sharing experiences of delayed treatment in Europe and praising India’s system.
- Who
- Dr Palak Bhatt, who identifies himself as an oncologist, and European doctors and social-media users.
- What
- Bhatt described healthcare access in India as faster than access in parts of Europe, especially for specialist consultations, testing and treatment.
- When
- Bhatt said the discussion occurred at an event the previous week; the video was described as recently viral.
- Where
- The discussion took place at an event in Europe, while the comparison concerned healthcare systems in India and Europe.
- Why
- Bhatt said he wanted to describe his experience of palliative-care discussions and healthcare access; the video prompted people to share their own experiences.
Faster Access in India
Longer Waits Reported in Europe
Specialist care and testing
Faster Access in India
Bhatt said an Indian patient concerned about tongue cancer could see an oncologist, receive an MRI and undergo a biopsy on the same day.
Longer Waits Reported in Europe
Bhatt said obtaining even a general-practitioner appointment in Europe can take four or five days.
Treatment timing
Faster Access in India
Bhatt said biopsy results could arrive within three to four days, allowing surgery, chemotherapy or other treatment within a week.
Longer Waits Reported in Europe
Social-media users reported delays in Europe, including a claimed six-month wait for surgery in the Netherlands and a 40-day wait for hip surgery in Paris.
- Speaker
- Dr Palak Bhatt, who identifies himself as an oncologist
- Topic
- Healthcare accessibility in India and Europe
- Example timeline in India
- MRI and biopsy potentially on the same day; results in three to four days
- Treatment timeline claimed
- Surgery, chemotherapy or another treatment could be offered within a week
- European appointment claim
- Bhatt said a general-practitioner appointment can often take four to five days
- Video reach
- More than 340,000 views and hundreds of comments at the last update
- Commenter examples
- Users described delayed surgery in the Netherlands and a 40-day wait for surgery in Paris