Daily Times

Sir: Recently, an Indian newspaper published a report that stated that several renowned doctors had resigned from their posts in New Delhi. They alleged that the respective CEOs and CFOs of their hospitals had been pushing them to employ certain nefarious tactics in order to charge patients more than they were supposed to pay.

The doctors highlighted several different methods that were proposed to them, in order to cheat their patients out of money.

These included converting minor injury cases in to major operational procedures, which would force patients to pay extra for surgery, when they originally only had to pay for consultation alone. Another method was extending the duration of a patients’ stay in the hospital so that they keep paying for their bed and any additional resources the hospital might provide them.

Some doctors were told to push people who were susceptible to developing diabetes medicine for the disease, even if they hadn’t acquired it as yet. Instead of making suggestions on how to live a healthy life, they were instead told to buy expensive diabetes medicine.

This method was used in quite a few cases, where patients were purposely given medication they did not need, in order to make more money out of them. Some would suggest especially expensive medicines, even though cheaper alternates were available, while some even went as far as creating situations that could simulate deliveries in pregnant women.

This is a very poor state of affairs and our country is susceptible to such practices as well. Patients have been turned into money making machines, and the focus s now entirely on increasing profits.

While respective authorities have taken strict action in the past against such practices, you can still be a victim to such scams. However, there are some precautions you can take to protect yourself and your loved ones.

Before you visit your doctor, do a little online research on your symptoms. You may have an issue that might heal itself within a short period of time. We don’t realise it but our bodies are capable of fighting off many ailments that some doctors would have us believe need medicine to treat.

Don’t be afraid to ask the doctors lots of questions and let them know that you have some knowledge about your symptoms, so that they don’t take undue advantage of you. Also, always confirm with the doctor whether alternate treatments are available, especially if you have been asked to buy expensive medicine or get invasive surgery.

Each test you are forced to go through should also elicit the same reaction, and you should keep peppering the doctor with questions about every move they make.

If the doctor finally does diagnose you with a particular disease or problem, then always remember to consult another doctor as well, because it is always prudent to get an informed second opinion. If both physicians confirm the diagnosis then at least you will know that you covered all your bases before getting treatment.

With the hope that respective ministries and authorities are setting strong mechanisms to eradicate and minimize this issue, you need to know that your health as well as your money are very precious, hence do not let anyone play with your life. I wish you all the best of health and a happy and healthy body, mind and soul!

JUNAID TAHIR

Via Email

Published in Daily Times, June 15^th 2018.