http://indianexpress.com/article/cities/pune/book-by-city-based-doctors-unwraps-unethical-practices/
Book by city-based doctors unwraps unethical practices
78 doctors from across the country wrote testimonies for the book which will be released on February 26 at AIIMS in New Delhi
Written by Anuradha Mascarenhas | Pune | Published:February 26, 2015 3:42 am
Many doctors have clearly decided that there is no choice but to practice medicine as if one is running a business. They were involved in ‘cut practice’ right from the beginning. After the advent of large and corporate hospitals, these practices have increased further,’’ says Dr Vinay Kulkarni, a skin specialist from Pune.
Dr H V Sardesai, a city-based senior physician, says that there is a cut practice where pharmaceutical companies take doctors on foreign tours. They make all the arrangements and the doctors pretend to be on a study trip. “Unfortunatelym, there are many doctors who enjoy all this. Why is there such a large difference between prices of the same medicine sold by different pharmaceutical companies when the chemical used is the same?” he said.
Dr Rajendra Malose, a general practitioner from Nashik, however, is blunt when he points out that doctors get Rs 30-40,000 just for referring a patient for angioplasty. Dead patients continue to be kept on ventilators, until the anger of their relatives cool off, he says. As soon as an accident takes place on the highway, seven or eight persons go running to the site and take charge. “Is it a good or a bad thing that they promptly take such patients to orthopaedic wards of corporate hospitals?” he asks.
These revealing testimonies of 78 doctors from various parts of the country about the reality of private medical practice in India has been compiled in a book authored by Pune-based Dr Abhay Shukla and Dr Arun Gadre. It will be released on February 26 at AIIMS in New Delhi. The book is an English translation of the Marathi one — Kaifiyat pramanik doctoranchi (reflections by sincere doctors).
It contains interviews of 78 practicing doctors from Mumbai, Pune, Delhi, Kolkata, Bangalore and Chennai. “These whistleblower doctors have mustered the ethical courage to expose facts for the first time on such a scale,” Dr Arun Gadre says.
Several doctors spoke up including Dr Vijay Ajgaonkar, senior diabetologist from Mumbai, who says, “Now our greed has increased to the extent that when a patient of one consultant goes to another consultant, the second one prescribes the same medicine, but merely changes the brand to show that he is doing something different. And it is true that this profession has now become completely commercial.”
Huge corporate hospitals and multi-speciality hospitals are growing in number. These organisations put pressure on all the doctors linked to the hospital and on their full-time doctor employees.
“Unnecessary investigations are then forced upon the patients,” says Ajgaonkar. Dr Shyam Kagal, a city-based physician, says that in the past he was attached to a certain hospital where the management told him plainly that to continue work he would have to admit a certain minimum number of patients every month.
“Unnecessary investigations are then forced upon the patients,” says Ajgaonkar. Dr Shyam Kagal, a city-based physician, says that in the past he was attached to a certain hospital where the management told him plainly that to continue work he would have to admit a certain minimum number of patients every month.
Dr Sanjay Gupte, a city-based gynaecologist and ex-national president of FOGSI, hit the nail on the head saying corporate hospitals want only those doctors who can help them to earn more money. “As a result, doctors who practise ethically cannot last there. I know of a hospital where if the patient is charged Rs 1,50,000, the doctor gets a mere Rs 15,000. Ninety percent of the income goes into the corporate coffers,” he adds.
MARD seeks action against Thyrocare for cut practice; lab refutes charge
DNA CORRESPONDENT | Sun, 5 Jun 2016-07:20am , DNA
The Maharashtra Association of Resident Doctors (MARD) has alleged that Thyrocare, which is one of the leading diagsnostic centres in Mumbai, is involved in encouraging cut practice among doctors. The association has written a letter to the Maharashtra Medical Council (MMC) asking it to look into the matter and take action.
"There is a gross violation of ethics by the laboratory to get more doctors to refer more patients to them for blood samples. We sent the letter to MMC on Friday and asked them to investigate," said Dr Sagar Mundada, president, MARD.
The association has come in possession of a leaflet that, it says, proves its charge true.
Thyrocare, however, has denied the allegation that it pays doctors commission for getting them to send patients to the lab. "We never believed in the cut system and have always advocated against it to everyone involved in the chain. The letter circulated clearly states that this is an offer for the laboratories and not doctors. Coupons are printed with special rates for various tests. These are less than the online rates as they are referred by doctors and much lesser than industry rates. Coupons are sent to laboratories. Laboratories in turn distribute handbills to the doctors in their area," said Santhosh M, general manager, business development, Thyrocare.
He added that Thyrocare also sends the details to doctors so that they understand that the laboratory cannot charge more.
MUMBAI: The Maharashtra Medical Council (MMC) on Monday sent a showcause notice to Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital, Andheri, asking why action shouldn't be taken against it for reportedly paying a commission to doctors for referring patients for hospitalization.
MMC is a quasi-judicial body that oversees functioning of the medical community. Its core committee met on Monday to take up complaints filed against doctors. The complaint against the Andheri corporate hospital, too, came up then.
"The Maharashtra Medical Council is in receipt of papers with details of the scheme of awards for the refering doctor from Kolkilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital," read the MMC showcause notice.
The hospital has allegedly been sending out entry forms, titled Elite Forum, to various doctors. "Two doctors have handed over to us the Elite Forum forms they received from the hospital. They clearly show 'rewards' for the number of admissions. This is nothing but offering a cut for doctors to refer patients for admission to the hospital,'' said MMC president Dr Kishor Taori.
A copy of the two-page Elite Forum form, which is available with TOI, shows a 'reward' of Rs 1 lakh for 40 admissions per annum, Rs 1.5 lakh for 50 admissions and Rs 2.5 lakh for 75 admissions.
The form needs doctors to sign and stamp a statement that reads: "I am very happy to know that KDAH has introduce an 'ELITE FORUM' for membership by invitation to senior doctors, for partnering KDAH, and jointly help bring about unique patient experience in line with the best of global hospitals."
The MMC has been cracking down on the 'cut practice' ever since a Mahad-based doctor, Dr Himmatrao Bawaskar, petitioned it after receiving a "commission" from a well-known diagnostic chain for referr8ing a patient for MRI. Cut practice is the term given to exchange of commission for referring patients. "Cut practice spoils the doctor-patient relationship. We need to improve the relationship at the earliest," said Dr Taori.
When contacted, Dr Ram Narain, CEO of Kokilaben Ambani Hospital, said his hospital hadn't yet received the notice. "We will definitely reply to it when we receive it," said Dr Narain.
However, the MMC notice said. "Soliciting & receiving any gift, gratuity, commission or bonus in consideration of or return for the referring recommending or procuring of any patient for medical, surgical or other treatment amounts to violation of the (MMC) code of conduct".
Medical Council shoots off notice to hospital over ‘cut practice’
Malathy Iyer| TNN | May 12, 2014, 11.23 PM ISTMMC is a quasi-judicial body that oversees functioning of the medical community. Its core committee met on Monday to take up complaints filed against doctors. The complaint against the Andheri corporate hospital, too, came up then.
"The Maharashtra Medical Council is in receipt of papers with details of the scheme of awards for the refering doctor from Kolkilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital," read the MMC showcause notice.
The hospital has allegedly been sending out entry forms, titled Elite Forum, to various doctors. "Two doctors have handed over to us the Elite Forum forms they received from the hospital. They clearly show 'rewards' for the number of admissions. This is nothing but offering a cut for doctors to refer patients for admission to the hospital,'' said MMC president Dr Kishor Taori.
A copy of the two-page Elite Forum form, which is available with TOI, shows a 'reward' of Rs 1 lakh for 40 admissions per annum, Rs 1.5 lakh for 50 admissions and Rs 2.5 lakh for 75 admissions.
The form needs doctors to sign and stamp a statement that reads: "I am very happy to know that KDAH has introduce an 'ELITE FORUM' for membership by invitation to senior doctors, for partnering KDAH, and jointly help bring about unique patient experience in line with the best of global hospitals."
The MMC has been cracking down on the 'cut practice' ever since a Mahad-based doctor, Dr Himmatrao Bawaskar, petitioned it after receiving a "commission" from a well-known diagnostic chain for referr8ing a patient for MRI. Cut practice is the term given to exchange of commission for referring patients. "Cut practice spoils the doctor-patient relationship. We need to improve the relationship at the earliest," said Dr Taori.
When contacted, Dr Ram Narain, CEO of Kokilaben Ambani Hospital, said his hospital hadn't yet received the notice. "We will definitely reply to it when we receive it," said Dr Narain.
However, the MMC notice said. "Soliciting & receiving any gift, gratuity, commission or bonus in consideration of or return for the referring recommending or procuring of any patient for medical, surgical or other treatment amounts to violation of the (MMC) code of conduct".
