Thank you Hindustan Times
Doctors take flak from every angle for high cost of treatment today and I thank HT for giving the breakup of the bill of the patient who died in Fortis Hospital. Though I sympathize with the family of the patient who is today the poster girl to demonstrate how doctors fleece their patients. On going through the bill of Rs 15,79,322 I found the doctors charges billed at Rs 53900 or 3.41 % of the total bill. I hope this figure is read clearly by all and sundry.
The Government is hell bent on closing small doctor run nursing homes which are owned and managed by doctors in favour of corporate hospitals taking the plea of “quality”. Clinical Establishment Act has been enacted at the behest of these business houses who have found a huge business opportunity in healthcare only if these small upstarts who eat into their potential business can be eliminated. The rules and regulations of CEA will unleash an inspector Raj which will make it impossible for small and medium healthcare establishments to function. This will leave the field open to the corporate houses to make a killing.
The Government, society, screaming anchors and the news headlines all blame the doctors for the spiralling cost of healthcare. Please take home a clear message from this incident
1) You have asked for it when you favour the glitzy 5 star palaces which also provide healthcare
2) When you make rules and laws to favour them and erase any semblance of competition
3) Doctors fee in this highly inflated bill is 3.41 % of the total. Hence the Doctors , even those who work in corporate hospitals are not responsible for the spiralling cost of healthcare.
4) Society needs Government Hospitals, Corporate hospitals, as well as the nursing homes and small hospitals and clinics and even the Ayush & RMPs. They may be graded anyway the Government wishes but they should not be forced into extinction using draconian laws. Let patients choose which category of establishment they wish to take treatment from.
Dr Neeraj Nagpal
Convenor,Medicos Legal Action Group, Managing Director MLAG Indemnity,
Ex President IMA Chandigarh
Director Hope Gastrointestinal Diagnostic Clinic,
Sco 1066-67 , Sector 123 New Sunny Enclave , Mohali
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