American tourist praises free care at Odisha government hospital

An American filmmaker, Mike, has praised India's healthcare system after receiving free treatment at a rural government hospital in Odisha. In a viral Instagram video titled "American hospitalised in India," he said he fell ill from overeating local food during a trip. He received IV fluids and anti-nausea medicine.

Mike said the same care in the US would have cost thousands of dollars. He jokingly called the hospital staff "socialists" for not charging him. NDTV reports he clarified his illness was not due to food poisoning but overindulgence. The video has gained over 465,000 views.

Social media users expressed surprise at India's free public healthcare. One commenter noted treatment at such a facility costs only about two to three dollars for medicines.