The value of maintaining a health file by the general public, I feel, has not been adequately stressed. It is, in my opinion, mandatory for each and every citizen to maintain a personal file for his or her health (whatever the status of the citizen- rich or poor) wherein he or she files each and every item of information related to his or her health (investigations, prescriptions etc. done by each and every doctor the patient consults.)

This is a far better method that should be encouraged rather than the doctor maintaining a file for the patient. In the event of the patient deciding to change the doctor, or the demise of the usual medical attendant of the patient, he or she could always carry the file to the new doctor.

The basic, fundamental theory that ‘HEALTH IS WEALTH’ is not understood nor respected by the public. I find that only a very small percentage of our patients carry or maintain a health file. Instead, the majority carry their vital medical data and statistics in the most obscure and even amusing places - in their handbags, inside books, in the cubby hole of cars etc.! The WEALTH FILE, on the other hand is meticulously maintained and religiously carried to the accountant at the end of the Tax Year!

In addition to every member of my family, I maintain a file for each and every servant, and even the pets at home! I would like to make an earnest plea to the general public to start maintaining a file for their health more meticulously than for their wealth, for HEALTH IS CERTAINLY WEALTH. Further more this habit will certainly clear the path for both patient and doctor to lead each other towards good HEALTH, WEALTH and PROSPERITY.
Dr. W. B. Wijekoon
Visiting Consultant Physician
Colombo