Doctor Recalls Childhood Days, Endures Challenges to Make it Good in Life
Dr Amrish Krishnan had to endure many challenges in life to accomplish his goals and reach where he is today.
“And it was all worth it,” says the Kidney Hub Specialty Hospital Specialist Nephrologist.
Early Days
Growing up in Lautoka his childhood days played an important role in his perception of the world.
“I grew up in a suburban area in Lautoka, in a multiracial neighbourhood. Growing up, my best friends were Rotumans, iTaukei, Chinese and of other ethnic backgrounds, but we had immense love and respect for each other,” Dr Krishnan said.
“We practically grew up at each other’s houses, enjoying the diversity of our cultures and cuisines. We spent all our spare time outdoors playing basketball, soccer or touch rugby, there was never a moment of boredom.
“I lost my father to a motor vehicle accident when I was 17. My father was an accountant, but at the start of his career he had only completed half of high school education. He was a very hard working, self-made man.
“My mother dedicated her life to raising me and my siblings; she now lives in New Zealand. I have two brothers, both of whom live abroad.”
Dr Krishnan said he had amazing memories through his schooling years.
“After receiving a lecture about poor performance in Class One, I became determined to do well academically. I often ended up top of the class, but always felt that exams didn’t always reflect children’s IQ,” he said.
“I had some very intelligent friends who were good at art or building, and generally had greater insight about life. In 2000 I was badged as the head boy of Indian College, which helped boost my confidence in public speaking. “
SACRIfiCES
Despite the challenges Dr Krishnan had to go through, he made sure that he emerged victorious.
“I joined the Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor or Surgery programme (MBBS) at the Fiji School of Medicine (FSM) in 2001 through the PSC Scholarship. My fellow medical students and I lived on campus, with very basic amenities,” Dr Krishnan said.
“Dining hours at FSM, then, was very rigid, and if you missed a meal, it often meant going to bed hungry or being invited by a fellow student (usually an international student) to share what they would be having for dinner.
“I looked forward to visitations to home in Lautoka, which normally happens once every two months or so.
“Exams in medical school were hard, and we would all have very little sleep the weeks prior to the exams. I completed my final year of MBBS in December 2006. In 2010 I returned to school again, but this time as a Master of Medicine candidate.
Work
He did his internship at the Colonial War Memorial Hospital in 2007.
“Internship is almost certainly the toughest year in a doctor’s career. I worked very long hours in some departments, as many as 32 hours in a single stretch,” Dr Krishnan said.
“In 2008 I was posted to Nanukuloa Health Centre in Ra. This was a very enriching experience. The people of Ra are some of the most delightful people I have met in my life.
“I was always invited to traditional gatherings and kava ceremonies, and the people looked after me as I took care of their health.
“In 2009, I left Nanukuloa to return to CWM Hospital. It was a bittersweet departure, but I knew that I had to attain further training to make a bigger difference.
“Towards the end of my master’s training, I was offered a Post Graduate Physician Trainee (Registrar) position at the Taranaki Base Hospital to further understand the evaluation and treatment of people with kidney disease.
“The post came with a significant salary and for two years I was able to work and enjoy the sights and sounds of New Zealand. On most weekends when I wasn’t on call, I would travel across the Northern Island.
“I made many good friends in New Zealand. At the end of 2014, I returned to Fiji, as I had always intended, to work at CWM Hospital as a Consultant, and to help establish services related to treatment of kidney disease.
“In 2016 I started working as a Consultant at Suva Private Hospital, but later chose to set up a small community dialysis unit, called The Kidney Hub, at Rewa Street in Suva, largely to help children and young adults with kidney failure.
“Slowly the practice grew in response to the need that existed. In 2017 I returned to CWM Hospital to assist with the designs and construction of Fiji’s first public system dialysis unit.
“We all knew that the less fortunate needed a place where they could access dialysis more sustainably. By mid 2018 I returned to my own practice The Kidney Hub, where patient numbers were getting too large to manage part time. I have remained at The Kidney Hub since.”
CHALLENGES IN CAREER
Being in the medical field has its rewards and challenges.
Dr Krishnan said working as a doctor in Fiji was challenging, and one could feel it even more once they have had the opportunity to work abroad.
“We see far more patients per day in Fiji, and sometimes too many to have a decent doctor patient clinic encounter. Limitations in resources (medicines and equipment) make it harder, especially when doctors are trained to do a particular procedure or deliver a treatment, but don’t have the equipment or consumable available locally,” he said.
“This happens in both the public and private sector, but more so in the public sector where services are delivered to hundreds of thousands of people, and procurement is a lot more challenging.
“In the recent years, in my opinion, access to medicines, consumables and equipment has improved, and COVID19 has been a catalyst in making this happen.
“COVID19 brought the world, and the best health systems of the world to its knees. Very early in the outbreak even developed countries realised that they didn’t have the surge capacity to adequately handle such a large pandemic,” he said.
“Countries went into lock down, not to keep the virus out indefinitely, but to stall things until a vaccine could be found and extensively administered.
“Fiji held on very well for many months, performing better than many other countries, but unfortunately COVID19 entered the community just as the vaccination programme was starting.
“The skepticism initially about the vaccine further weakened the nation’s efforts to control COVID-19. I am happy though that many initially skeptical Fijians, later recognised the importance of vaccinations, and Fiji reached high vaccination coverage very quickly.
“Future waves of COVID-19 are almost inevitable, as the virus mutates to become stronger. It is imperative that we allow the experts to guide us, and we must continue to support national efforts in unity.
MOTIVATION
“Professor Joji Malani was instrumental in encouraging me to pursue the Nephrology specialty, and he is an outstanding individual and educator. I have also found motivation through the patients I treat,” he said.
“I often wonder if I would have the strength to face a terminal illness like they do, so I have tremendous respect for them.
“One particular child, 13 years old when first diagnosed with kidney failure, became an advocate for people with kidney disease, and it was for him that I purchased my first haemodialysis machine.
“Sometimes the practice of medicine can be emotionally challenging, but we must use that grief to ignite passion and innovation.”