Posts

Showing posts from July, 2011

Are Indian Doctors cheating their patients?

Most of these observations are either completely or partially true. Corruption has many names, and one of civil society isn't innocent either. Professionals and businessmen of various sorts indulge in unscrupulous practices. I recently had a chat with some doctors, surgeons and owners of nursing homes about the tricks of their trade. Here is what they said   1)      40-60% kickbacks for lab tests. When a doctor (whether family doctor / general physician, consultant or surgeon) prescribes tests - pathology, radiology, X-rays, MRIs etc. - the laboratory conducting those tests gives commissions.  In South and Central Mumbai -- 40%.  In the suburbs north of Bandra -- a whopping 60 per cent!  He probably earns a lot more in this way than the consulting fees that you pay. 2)      30-40% for referring to consultants, specialists & surgeons. When your friendly GP refers you to a specialist or surgeon, he gets 30-40%.  3)      30-40% of total hospital charges. If the GP or consultan