There are a lot of health care professionals who provide good service within their means with very good and well meaning intentions. Their deeds are praiseworthy. In fact, it is how every doctor is supposed to be...
I certainly have a problem in trusting some of our own colleagues. Blame it on commercialisation of health services (it is an industry!!!).
One of my acquaintances consulted a physician for a few ailments. He was ordered several tests including CBC, U&E, LFT, Urine Tests, Chest X ray, USS abdo and a CT scan of abdo. The tests showed a mass on one of his kidneys.
By next morning, he was in a renowned 'corporate hospital'. The junior resident further ordered another set of investigations which were the same as the ones done the previous day in a different centre. On questioning, the patient was told that this was the initial investigation package and that they would not rely on the validity of tests done in other centres.
This was certainly the beginning.
After a myriad blood tests and scans of all sorts, he ended up having a CABG (coronary artery bypass graft). No one has yet informed or has taken the trouble of explaining to the patient as to what kind of 'mass' he had on the kidney or what its prognosis was. I understand this patient's pre-anaesthetic check revealed some cardiac problems!!!
I have only mentioned a tiny part of a catalogue of hurdles this poor patient had to undergo. If as doctors we feel helpless, one can understand the common man's plight.
I am sure, this is not a solitary case. Every patient is a potential money-spinner...
health care in india is currently un regulated/ poorly regulated. there is an urgent need for regulation however nobody seems interested. in fact one of the main reasons i started my blog was because of a story of malpractise which was forwarded to me through a friend. please have a look at www.indiahealthwatch.blogspot.com
the first essay on it is about health care regulation.
