Revisiting the medical profession and restoring people’s faith in it
It is a grim time for medicine and the practitioners of medical science. As patients slowly lose all faith in doctors, the medical profession is currently facing its darkest hour. It is, therefore, time for medical professionals to introspect and come up with self-regulation procedures.
Padma Shri Awardee and president, Heart Care Foundation of India, Dr KK
Aggarwal, who has also been Immediate Past National President, IMA, and a Limca Book record holder in CPR 10, shares some dos and don’ts for medical establishments as well as patients.
All medical professionals should practice with compassion and follow the ALERT policy (Acknowledge, Listen, Listen, and Listen, Explain, Review and Thank you). All doctors should choose affordable drugs. Hospitals and doctors should transparent with their billing.
Every doctor should ensure that it becomes mandatory on the part of the hospital administrator to offer costeffective treatment options (for instance, single room, shared room, and general ward) to the patients at the time of admission.
The treating doctor must explain the chances of death and unexpected complications and resulting financial implications. A hospital has no right to stop life-saving investigations or treatment due to non-payment of bills if the patient is still admitted in the hospital. All medical establishments should maintain due dignity of dead persons, under all circumstances.
The medical profession should practice zero tolerance for cuts and commissions, and forcing their consultants to work on targets.
No doctors should issue false certificates.
For any query, patients should approach the local IMA Medical Redressal Commission.
The patient has the right to go for a second opinion from an appropriately qualified medical doctor. The primary doctors have no right to get offended.
No establishment can sell any item priced higher than the MRP.
All medical establishments should sell disposables at procurement price after adding a predefined fixed margin (30% to 50%). No service charges should be added to MRP to procure drugs/devices from outside. Every medical prescription must include counseling on the cost of drugs and investigations.
Dr Aggarwal is also a public health expert on affordable health care, and is working towards creating awareness about preventable health care. His foundation [AA1] supports surgeries for heart patients who cannot afford treatment. IMA works on the principle Jiska Koi Nahi Uska IMA. The forthcoming HCFI observing 25 years of Perfect Health Mela this year in October will focus on affordable healthcare.