Consumer Healthcare Reforms
Since LocalCircle is doing good reform work in healthcare sector, I urge every member to go through attached document of the rut in the pharma and healthcare sector.
The study is based on 50 in-depth interviews with medical representatives in six cities. “From high value gifts like smartphones costing ₹80,000, microwave ovens, tablets, silver items, gold jewellery to petro-cards, credit cards, e-vouchers for online shopping are trends in promotional practices among doctors,” the study says.
A trend of the propaganda cum distribution companies are new entities which are franchisees of the pharma companies who buy drugs in bulk from manufacturers, give their own brand names and directly sell them to retailers and doctors at huge discounts and incentives including gifts, cash, hospitality and travel facilities, said the study.
It added that the pharma companies offer bribes up to ₹50,000 showing doctors as principal investigators in research paper when they have had nothing to do with the research. There is no law to regulate unethical promotional practices prevalent in pharmaceutical industry.
A case of a pharma company CEO who told an apollo doctor “Everyone has their price - just name yours.” He further added that he signed as many as 40,000 cheques per month allegedly in bribes to doctors. more
The study is based on 50 in-depth interviews with medical representatives in six cities. “From high value gifts like smartphones costing ₹80,000, microwave ovens, tablets, silver items, gold jewellery to petro-cards, credit cards, e-vouchers for online shopping are trends in promotional practices among doctors,” the study says.
A trend of the propaganda cum distribution companies are new entities which are franchisees of the pharma companies who buy drugs in bulk from manufacturers, give their own brand names and directly sell them to retailers and doctors at huge discounts and incentives including gifts, cash, hospitality and travel facilities, said the study.
It added that the pharma companies offer bribes up to ₹50,000 showing doctors as principal investigators in research paper when they have had nothing to do with the research. There is no law to regulate unethical promotional practices prevalent in pharmaceutical industry.
A case of a pharma company CEO who told an apollo doctor “Everyone has their price - just name yours.” He further added that he signed as many as 40,000 cheques per month allegedly in bribes to doctors. more
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We have laws in favour of common man but those are ambiguous and cumbersome. People responsible to ensure the interests of the people and patients are lethargic and highly corrupt leaving the patients at the mercy of the hospitals and their doctors who are also highly corrupted and understand the language of money only. Of course, there are exceptions but they can be counted on finger tips and are like drops in the ocean in a country of 1.30 billion. The government should now bring health care under its list of priority, reform it on the line of making it patients friendly providing for stern action against all the misdoers including the pharma companies and their associates. more
Jan 24
Let me say this first, there are many well trained, honest and good doctors in India. I know many but Medical reform is a must in India. There is corruption at so many levels that is hurting common man and others in India too. There is a system where a primary care sends the patient for surgical or specialty care, the primary care gets a %age from all those people who treat patient after that. Radiology is a big business in India. It also gives incentive for those who are into "making money". There is so much unnecessary testing done by radiology and labs. This is a money maker and shameful practice. Drug company middle people many are crooks. They will offer a deal to the doctors if they prescribe a certain amount they will get rewarded by the drug company. I have seen them prescribe unnecessary medications and even antibiotics. They also make a deal with drug store and direct all the patients to that particular store so they can both benefit. This practice in rest of the world called a "kick back" and banned all over the world in developed countries. We are getting worse. Many christian missionary hospitals are getting money from many sources and using the treatment as bribe to convert people to christianity( this is a fact and first hand information). We also need to give incentives for the new Dr to practice in small towns and villages in return to the college fees like a bond. I have seen this done all over the world. In USA a medical student is given tuition break when they sign a contract to serve underserved area in the nation. I think we are giving so many benefits to a special class of people I think we should make them serve those area. It is only fair. more
Jan 23
I too felt the same way. But one day I have analysed the cost of machines that the hospitals buy. It is humongous. There is a 100 bed hospital near my home, which has all the machinery to take care of the patient. If my estimation is correct it would have costed them anywhere between 10-15crores. Now tell me how do they recover and pay to banks. I'm not taking the side of corporate hospitals here. There is a percentage of income need for these hospitals to survive. But practices of charging patients unnecessarily to get profits is not ethical and sustainable practice. I feel with the healthcare insurance coming up, reforms related to the hospitalisation costs can be made bearable to common man. infact this is happening already. Only thing is there is a need for insurance coverage for people above 60 with known ailments. If this is given push then things will be easier. The only other alternative to this problem is people change their lifestyles or approach Ayurveda, Homoepathy, Siddha and Yoga. Whoever are shifting to these health systems are already reducing their yearly healthcare costs. more
Jan 17
YS Rajasekhar Reddy of AP used Satyam Computers started 108 Ambulance as his Idea. We need formation Medical help brigade, to meet the Medical needs of Remote villagers. more
Jan 17
