Most felt a nexus between labs and doctors
The survey of localcircles on healthcare greed and commission culture has been published in The Hindu today.
Close on the heels of Gurugram-based Fortis Memorial Research Institute (FMRI) allegedly overcharging the family of a seven-year-old dengue patient who died recently at the hospital, a survey conducted about the common man’s perception on “corruption” in the healthcare system points towards many ills.
To check citizen perception on the issue, LocalCircles — a community social media platform — conducted a survey which received over 29,000 responses.
High-profit business
According to the survey, one of the important issues raised is the heavy dependence of the medical system in the country on pathology labs. Being a high-profit business, thousands of pathology labs have mushroomed across the country.
“Many people feel that these pathology labs have a tie-up with doctors and give them a commission for each patient referred,” noted the survey.
To a question on how many times the respondents felt their doctor had ordered more tests than were actually required, 36% said it happened one to three times, 23% said it had happened over three times, 25% said it had never happened, while 16% did not know.
On whether the doctors had suggested using a particular lab for the tests, 47% said most doctors had asked them to do so, while 27% said only some had made the suggestion. None of the doctors had suggested going to a particular lab, according to 17% of the respondents, while 9% were unsure.
Incentives to doctors
Asked if the labs should lose licenses if found giving incentives to doctors for prescribing tests, 91% replied in the affirmative, 5% did not agree, while 4% were unsure.
Of the total, 86% were in favour of putting in place a mechanism where earnings and incentives for doctors associated with a hospital remain completely unrelated to the value of tests he/she refers to the hospital labs. While 3% did not have an opinion, 10% disagreed with the suggestion.
Level of trust
To a question on how many times had their pathology reports been wrong over the past three years, 26% claimed it had happened nearly three times, 6% said it had happened over three times, 43% said it had never happened, while 25% said they were unsure.
On how much they trusted the pathology lab they used, 34% of respondents said they stayed vigilant as the level of trust was low, 37% said they had high levels of trust but still stayed vigilant, 20% said they fully trust the labs, while 9% said they had very low levels of trust in the lab.
http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Delhi/survey-on-graft-in-healthcare-system-points-towards-many-ills/article20630008.ece more
Close on the heels of Gurugram-based Fortis Memorial Research Institute (FMRI) allegedly overcharging the family of a seven-year-old dengue patient who died recently at the hospital, a survey conducted about the common man’s perception on “corruption” in the healthcare system points towards many ills.
To check citizen perception on the issue, LocalCircles — a community social media platform — conducted a survey which received over 29,000 responses.
High-profit business
According to the survey, one of the important issues raised is the heavy dependence of the medical system in the country on pathology labs. Being a high-profit business, thousands of pathology labs have mushroomed across the country.
“Many people feel that these pathology labs have a tie-up with doctors and give them a commission for each patient referred,” noted the survey.
To a question on how many times the respondents felt their doctor had ordered more tests than were actually required, 36% said it happened one to three times, 23% said it had happened over three times, 25% said it had never happened, while 16% did not know.
On whether the doctors had suggested using a particular lab for the tests, 47% said most doctors had asked them to do so, while 27% said only some had made the suggestion. None of the doctors had suggested going to a particular lab, according to 17% of the respondents, while 9% were unsure.
Incentives to doctors
Asked if the labs should lose licenses if found giving incentives to doctors for prescribing tests, 91% replied in the affirmative, 5% did not agree, while 4% were unsure.
Of the total, 86% were in favour of putting in place a mechanism where earnings and incentives for doctors associated with a hospital remain completely unrelated to the value of tests he/she refers to the hospital labs. While 3% did not have an opinion, 10% disagreed with the suggestion.
Level of trust
To a question on how many times had their pathology reports been wrong over the past three years, 26% claimed it had happened nearly three times, 6% said it had happened over three times, 43% said it had never happened, while 25% said they were unsure.
On how much they trusted the pathology lab they used, 34% of respondents said they stayed vigilant as the level of trust was low, 37% said they had high levels of trust but still stayed vigilant, 20% said they fully trust the labs, while 9% said they had very low levels of trust in the lab.
http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Delhi/survey-on-graft-in-healthcare-system-points-towards-many-ills/article20630008.ece more
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This issue is growing beyond proportions. They are justifying it as the medical seat or PG qualifications are secured by payjng lakhs and crores. Then again the public is at risk of treatment by substandard doctors 'qualified' thru reservations. Do we need this risk to uplift the society ? Cannot there be an authorised agency (uncorrupted) to confirm the tests, line of treatment, medicines etc prescribed. Even hospitals and doctors tie up medical stores and pharma companies for grafts. Depending on the grade of doctors and hospitals, can the govt fix a cap for charges and expenses. It is cruelty that dead bodies are not released by hospitals till bills are settled. Encourage a system to donate organs and set off final bills. How many lives could be saved ? more
Nov 24
There is nexus between Path Labs and Doctors, their commission about 35% is paid by Labs to Doctors. It must be stopped. more
Nov 24
This is crystal clear that government is not doing anything for the health of the citizens who have elected them with such a mejority. Further the government has closed their eyes and ears when such matters of collision of doctors with testing centres and with pharma companies in looting gullible patients. more
Nov 24
People want to know about the action taken by the Govt to stop this organised loot by the 5star hospitals all over the country. What are the plans to improve upon the medical facility for the common man? more
Nov 24
Yes, it is, There is no scope for any kind of doubt. Not only that, the hospitals carries various tests more than once on their indoor patients only with ill intention of inflating their bills and this fact is an open secret. It appears that the first investigation reports will show some negativity and after a few days the tests are repeated to show that the hospital treatment has improved the patients' condition. In this way the hospitals are benefited in two ways, extra earnings and improved reputation. more
Nov 23
Govt. MEDICARE insurance companies have also increased premium three fold like various new charges being levied by banks. You can easily see a sinister design behind all this - Modi's evil mind!!!!! more
Nov 23
