Why South Asians don't trust conventional medicine: A colonial experiment

Studies have shown that South Asian communities are less likely to trust conventional medicine, including the Covid-19 vaccine. Arguably, due to a lack of testing that includes us, colonial histories with European medicine and disinformation spreading, has caused this. 

Traditional cultural practises mean many South Asians resort to natural methods or home remedies when treating illnesses - some use homeopathy to heal your body. I am not discounting the value of homeopathy, and whilst there is still speculation around this in media, I have successfully used homeopathy to ease the symptoms of my dysmenorrhea after having no luck with the medicine prescribed by doctors, and as a result, have stopped passing out and vomiting profusely every month.

However, when it comes to something as serious as the pandemic, it is important members of our communities know that vaccinations are the way to combat the spread of Coronavirus, and feel safe taking it; although with a lack of information over how many South Asians were included in the trials, I can understand where fears over how it could impact their body stem from.

Despite South Asians suffering to a great extent from Covid-19, with a disproportionate number of deaths, only 73% of the 70-79 age group has been vaccinated in England, versus 86% of white people of the same age. An attempt to combat this hesitation has resulted in the form of celebrity figures making statements, such as Adil Ray’s video featuring Romesh Ranganathan and Sadiq Khan, or Prince Charles’ webinar with the British Asian Trust. A Birmingham Mosque even became the UK’s first to offer the Covid vaccination, hoping to eradicate disinformation spreading within communities.

The government needs to portray South Asians in a positive light, instead of placing the blame on us, to reduce racial divides with healthcare – especially since many of us have been scapegoated throughout this pandemic for the rise in cases. Outbreaks in Northern areas with a high concentration of Pakistani and Bangladeshi people have experienced abuse in public, such as one man being called a ‘disease spreading’ and judgement over multi-generational households. The announcement for lockdown in these areas the night before Eid in July has been perpetuated by the media choosing image covers of Brown people and Tory MP Craig Whittaker saying “it is the BAME communities that are not taking [coronavirus] seriously enough”. This affects mental health, with 36% of Indian groups experiencing increased loss of sleep over worry, versus 23% of White British people.

With over 40% of Pakistani and Bangladeshi people saying they are unlikely to take the vaccination, it will take more than BBC Asian Network debunking myths to change this narrative, when there is a colonial history linking a distrust for conventional medicine to South Asians. In 2011, the CIA used fake hepatitis vaccinations in Pakistan to locate Osama Bin Laden. Blood was drawn from children and tested for a DNA match to the Al-Qaeda leader, as a result, has led to an increase in suspicion towards all vaccination campaigns in Pakistan, and of course Pakistani communities.

19th Century British science was built upon extracting raw materials from the colonised land and people. Their research has bled into forming a science that we know today as modern medicine. In an attempt to cure diseases such as smallpox and cholera, the diet and movement of colonised people were controlled, therefore turning medicine into a weapon to secure imperial rule. In the 1970s, WHO (World Health Organisation) wanted South Asian participants to test out polio vaccinations.

Whilst colonisation may have ended superficially, neo-colonialism still lives on through Western domination and under-representation of South Asians in science, with many health charities in South Asia being run by Western countries, leading to mistrust. Decolonising science is important to move forwards, for Western scientists to recognise the racism within their work, and to allow formerly colonised countries to trust in practices again.

Despite all this country has gone through the past year with Coronavirus, it is evident that there are still racial biases present within media, parliament and healthcare. Rather than pinpointing blame on groups of people, accountability needs to be taken from the top-down; and we as the people need to unite together to be stronger in the face of a weak government.