Skills for Study Level 2 Teacher's Book - Cambridge University Press

Passage 1aIndia, like all countries, has a medical system based on the modern ‘scientific’approach to healthcare. This is the ‘Western’ system (no particular phrase toavoid, but students should be aware that it’s a strong, categorical statement,even though the accuracy of the term itself is disputed). The modern Westernmedical system relies on treating patients with high-tech equipment and expensivedrugs manufactured by multinational pharmaceutical companies. This system is onlyavailable to the rich; no ordinary Indians can afford to use it. Furthermore, peoplenow understand that modern Western medicine is ineffective. However, because it isthe dominant system promoted by the government, people only use it because theyhave no choice.bLike many other nations, India’s medical system is based on the modern ‘scientific’approach to healthcare (sometimes known as the ‘Western’ system). The modernWestern medical system tends to rely on treating patients with high-tech equipmentand expensive drugs manufactured by multinational pharmaceutical companies.Consequently, it is limited to those who can afford to pay. Many ordinary Indianscannot afford to do this. A further issue with modern medicine in India is theawareness that it is not effective in every situation. However, as it is the dominantsystem promoted by the government, many Indians feel forced to use it becausethey have no cheaper or more effective option.Passage 2aIn the past, most people visiting an acupuncturist did so because they were sufferingfrom muscular or joint pain. The proportion of people visiting acupuncturists forthis reason has declined in recent years, while the proportion of people visiting anacupuncturist for other treatments (e.g. psychological, quitting smoking, or generalhealth treatments) has risen. This is due to the fact that acupuncture has becomebetter known around the world, and everybody knows that it can be used for a rangeof different treatments. In the UK, for instance, with the ban on public smoking in2007, and high tobacco prices, everyone wants to quit, and acupuncture is the mosteffective method for stopping: as a result, acupuncturists have seen large rises in thenumber of smokers visiting them.bHistorically, most visits to acupuncturists were for the treatment of muscular or jointpain. However, the proportion of people visiting acupuncturists for this reason hasdeclined in recent years, while the proportion of people visiting an acupuncturist forother treatments (e.g. psychological, quitting smoking, or general health treatments)has risen. This may be due to increasing public awareness of acupuncture; morepeople are now aware of the different range of medical problems that it can be usedto treat. In the UK, for instance, with the ban on public smoking in 2007, and hightobacco prices, increasing numbers of smokers are looking for help to quit, andacupuncture is seen as being one effective method for doing this: as a result, manyacupuncturists have seen an increase in the number of smokers visiting them.Unit 3 Part C ∙ Investigating 89