The Indian Healthcare is in a state of serious disrepair. Let us first look at Dignostic Laboratories. There are no standardized rates for standard tests. Each lab charges what it feels like. The worst part is that you cannot even bank upon the results of the test despite paying through your nose. We have no way of finding out about the caliber of the staff. We recently got some blood tests done at Vijayashree Diagnostic Lab close to our house that looks pretty clean and swanky. This is because this Lab is very close to our house compared to the usual place where we go. When the results came, we were shocked because the values were definitely wrong. How do I know? Because I get this test done every few months, and this much variation is simply impossible. Now, what do I do? I have to repeat the test at another Diagnostic Lab to know the right value and end up wasting more money. Who can I complain to about this? Can you imagine if this happened for a test result for a more serious disease? Are they not playing with people’s lives with inaccurate results?
Try going to SuperSpeciality Hospitals like Fortis and Apollo. Wow, their rates can make you see moon and stars in the day time. And, these tests are not even covered by insurance. Also, these designer hospitals cannot be trusted. Because, doctors just ask for expensive tests to be done just by a single glance at you. It is disgusting and clearly a scam. Just a couple of days ago, there was an expose on NDTV about the Private Hospitals in Delhi treating poor patients shoddily and turning them away when they claim to treat 25% poor people every single day as per SC order. This is when they got land at dirt cheap rate on the premise that they will help treat poor patients for free. They are humiliating them and asking for all kinds of documents which is illegal I wonder if any action will be taken against them. I wonder if SC will take note of this.
It is clearly very disheartening that we end up paying through our nose and yet cannot be certain if the doctor, hospital or lab is not fleecing us and thriving at our expense. The state of government hospitals is even worse due to corruption and lack of workforce. Isn’t it high time that we had some reforms in healthcare too. There must be a regulatory body that ought to look into these issues. Greed is slowly consuming our Doctors and hospitals.
Update: As is pointed by many others, most of the doctors have no time to actually listen to your problems, show that they are paying attention and answer questions. You have to badger them for information. It is really quite sad.
It is indeed a BIG sham!! That’s so very shocking about wrong results!!
Recently we went to Fortis for Annual check-up… we wanted the most comprehensive ‘package’… we got one, which was the most expensive and STILL covered the basic tests. When we asked for a particular test, they said that you have to pay extra for that!!
And after the reports, when we met the doctor, she didnt even look at the reports properly and kept saying, everything is normal. Only when I asked questions about every test (I have been a Pharmaceutical Professional for 12 years), she looked at the reports and sorted our queries!! Very irritating and discomforting behaviour!
Healthcare is such a noble profession but its now entirely commercialized. I have some experiences here too that the results have been very contradictory.
Now what I do is whether I go to a doctor or for tests, I use my contacts and that is the only way to get to know the right picture.
Then there is also the problem that people view doctors as demi gods. Even doctors think they are demi gods. Most doctors I find do not want to answer your questions. These days patients, especially in urban areas are well informed. And it is the doctors duty to give us full and correct information. The doctor that diagnosed that my mom required by pass surgery was brutal. My poor dad was alone when the news was given to him and he simply went into denial. I had to go with him again in the evening to meet the same doctor. The doctor (JERK) did not spend too much time explaining to me and simply put me onto the surgeon. God bless the surgeon because he took the time to explain my mom’s situation to me and answer my endless questions. For educated senior citizens this is not an ideal scenario. Then imagine the poor illiterate folks.
The doctors probably have some sort of arrangement with these labs..
I had a similar experience had gone to chandigarh, and had some sort of infection, I was asked to get 4 -5 tests .. I asked the doctor why.. he has not even checked me , or asked me anything the symptoms etc .. how can he
he replies well thats how he will diagnose ..
great why do we need him, we shud get the tests and then go to him..
I jsut left and did nothing in 3 -4 days the infection went away on its own ..
Healthcare is deteriorating everywhere i think, even in uk its getting there , its takes longer to see a GP, if you are sick today you cant see him, probably get a appointment in 3 -4 days .. although I must say the tests and all are done very quickly and they Dare not be wrong ..
Thankfully I have private medical insurance as a bonus from my company so that helps a lot …
Bikram’s
In our country private health sector is generally unregulated.I agree that there must be a strong regulatory body to look into this and private hospital should not be allowed to cut the pocket of common people on their own will.Government must take an initiative to upgrade other governments sectors to good standards. Their is not enough budget allotted to healthcare segment in India.Even those who run the country don’t trust our health services.They go abroad to take care of their health problems.Remember Sonia ji during Anna movement.
@Shilpa Yes, I remember that we did the Health Check at Fortis too, and it was a struggle to get to meet the Cardiologist. The tests are becoming more and more basic, and the costs just keep going up. You rightly pointed out that they hardly glance at the reports and make generalized statements. I remember that we specifically ask any questions; they are definitely not forthcoming.
@bbsearchingself And that is the sad part that one has no way of knowing how the place, doctors or labs are till one has references.
@Deepa You are so right. That is so pathetic. I remember that when I was expecting, I used to do my own research and have a bunch of questions ready else the gynae hardly gave any info. I had my first baby in the US, and the doctor there was much more accommodating. Imagine what the poor go through. My maid told me how she had to run from pillar to post for her daughter’s C-section at the government hospital. She had to bribe everyone from the sweeper to the ward boy. Shame!
@Bikram Oh yes, we have insurance too. But, that insurance is only useful for hospitalizations. For normal consultations and tests, you pay yourself. UK system is still pretty good, better than the US where you are dead if you don’t have insurance. But, at least one does not complain about the quality of doctors or bad technicians or shoddy test results or nexus between doctors and lab guys. One doc even told us that why don’t you get the tests done from Fortis lab; we don’t know if this Lab is giving the right results? This is blatant promotion by the doctor.
@kavita Absolutely agree! The government is not pumping any funds into healthcare and due to their nexus with large hospitals, often turn a blind eye to their misdemeanors. It is really very sad. Of course, the high and mighty get state-paid-for foreign trips, so why do they need to care?
Private sector healthcare is well and truly disgusting. Once we were referred from one doctor to another doctor in a super speciality hospital(read super prices). Each and every doctor taking his cut of consultation fee. Atleast three doctors just referred us to another doctor without adding any value.
As a result we end up spending over a thousand bucks for a consultation that could have happened for quarter of our expenditure if we were referred properly.
These doctors are so noble that they lookout for eachother’s earnings nicely.
It’s high time that some sort of standardization of rates for all procedures are enforced in private sector healthcare.
I have mixed feelings about “designer hospitals”.
For obvious reasons, I dislike hospitals in general. But, I am also thankful for them.
How true Rachna, agree with you fully. The condition of our Govt hospitals are generally such pathetic that we end up going to the so called swanky private hospitals. Lack of proper regulation has really made these hospitals unreasonable. I too have my share of some bitter experience in this regard.
…I ts sad to hear ..about health plans in india …
Insurance or no insurance its responsibility to look after patients…Docs and lab people are together..hand in hand!
US we have insurance its covered ..so things are different.. private insurance is very expensive.. for seniors they have private insurance given by US govt which makes it free.. in any top notch hospital..our grand parents enjoyed that facility so I know how it works..
No insurance?? in US ..the doctors has to take the patient ..he can go through emergency the bill is settled later…no ifs or buts in that!
@GP I remember that one. Regulation is required, but where is the will?
@Agnes Me too. I don’t mind paying more for a specialist operation or specialized services. I hate being duped this way, and the whole lack of trust bit.
@Ruprekha something really ought to be done about them. We pay so much, and yet are duped.
@Harman Exactly! The first aim of all Healthcare has to be service. All else is secondary. If you are so desperate to make money then open a mall or a retail outlet, leave the hospitals to ethical people.
Healthcare in India is became worse.
Test results will varies on the care of lab staffs. There is no standard charge for tests. It will also depends on doctors. meaningful post
thanks for sharing…
govt aided hospitals are worst..and private doctors are totally fleecing the patients…here one doctor bought a new machine and then for each evry patient he would used that and charge 500/ for that, though it was not required at all.
All the doctors get cuts thru pathology labs and thats why they ask all the tests all the time, and we as a patient suffer twice..onece becuase the tests are not needed, secondly becasue tests become costlier due to the commission paid to the doctors..but who is to restrain them?
I get thyroid tests done from thyrocare.ISO 9000 lab, but my doctor nevr accepts them and wants everything to be done at his place with double the amount.
Swindling the gullible has become the motto of India Shining!
Very true. In private hospitals the lab technicians are paid a pittance. He scribbles his findings in a register which then goes to the data entry man. Many times the reports get interchanged. You are likely to get all different reports for the same test from different labs.Then there is a nexus between the doctor and the labs.
completely agree to this post though i wish i need not have, i wish i could’ve disagreed & said no this is not true, hospitals are good,they are not openly cheating us, they are doing good work.
how sad that this is not the case :((
we had a similar experience as you narrated here. Sathya had an eye injury & the doc at Columbia Asia suggested surgery! direct surgery! we then consulted an “ordinary” doc in an “ordinary” clinic in a not so posh road in Malleshwaram. he prescribed drops/medicines & lo, Sathya’s eye was fine. turns out this “ordinary” doc was the doc under whom the Columbia doc was trained!
its a very sad plight. how can a layman even question them/their tests/results? & where do we go for such exorbitant rates especially when it’s only a rip-off attempt. the trust & fear for life factor of people is being taken advantage of
@Krishna It is such a big scam and makes one distrustful of the entire system. Welcome to my space and thankyou for your views.
@Renu Imagine that and Thyrocare is the best for these tests. These doctors are ridiculous.
@Rahul Seems that way.
Healthcare professionals are going the way teachers have gone. there is no sense of service and the motto is money. Like Bikram pointed out, if they need expensive tests to diagnose anything why do we need them? Gone are the days when the simple GP in the neighbourhood checked the pulse and knew something was amiss. Did you read my Oh doctor? http://wp.me/p10wLZ-nQ
Reading this makes me thankful that in our country healthcare is free. Anyone can walk into a hospital and will be soon by a doctor and given medicines 🙂
I agree with all your points. It is also true that doctors get commission for recommending certain tests like MRI, etc.
However, I must say I was lucky in not get duped or made to take unwanted tests, the doctors I was made to consult during my stay in the Hospitals were all very decent, and took good care of me. ( I was admitted twice in Manipal hospital) and the cost of everything from staying to everything else was very reasonable. even the nurses there were very good and committed.
Maybe, I just happened to be lucky.
In India you can any doctor easily, whereas in other countries like the US, it is not possible, and when you go to the hospital, ER. you have to spend minimum 5 hours. I had very high fever, I had to go to the ER, because the usual medicines didn’t work, and, i was there at 7pm and could come out only around12.30 am.
And also you have to answer every nurse, head nurse, junior doctors, interns, middle level doctors to finally the really senior doctor, and they would all ask the same questions.
I felt we were better off in India, where you can go to any corner doctor and get some immediate relief.
But, I feel you can’t trust any of these hifi doctors and their hospitals, and all Diagnostic centers too are not reliable.
However, there are two or three centers which are reliable in Bangalore.
Yes….private hospitals are nothing but thug place indeed.I feel sad for the way it’s being corrupted n commercialized
@PNSubramaniam Welcome to my space, and thank you for the comment. You are right! The entire thing seems so murky.
@Sujatha Wow, that is sad. I wish I had a GP like older days that I could trust every time. I have a good pediatrician at least, luckily.
@cybernag Absolutely. Gone are the days when doctors used to be this benign person who knows your family history, has seen you grow up and has time and patience for you. Most doctors especially with hospitals are just like money-making machines. The noble profession is getting vitiated. Very sad. I will surely read your post.
@Emmy Well, I have access to good doctors too. But, I wonder about their credibility and whether what they are suggesting is self-serving or for monetary gains. Thus, we become skeptical, which is very sad.
@rama You are indeed very lucky not to have had a single bad experience. I have suffered some very bad doctors. I have met good ones too like my children’s pediatrician who also sits at Fortis. Largely, my experience with both Fortis and Apollo has been one of suspicion and a feeling of being ripped off.
My experiences in the US were all positive including my first pregnancy and other visits too.
@maverickshree More regulation is definitely needed.
You must read this.Our neighbours in Gurgaon got worried when thier daughter,four months pregnent,wouldnt stop caughing.Parents took her to NOW famous hospital(name not being disclosed)put the girl through all the possible tests and diagnosed her as a CANCER patient.
There isnt any point explaining what did the parents went through.
Two weeks later,she was taken to a Delhi hospital which laughed at the earliar report.Girl is fine and never had any problem.
Do you remember family Dr concept?
People now do MBBS for money only and not with the aim to help others. It’s really shameful.
I have a friend who finishd his MBBS. The reason they say is…to avoid the human errors, they put the patient through all the tests. Besides no longer Medicine is confined to meritorious students
@BKChowla That’s quite shocking! I remember the family doctor concept and miss it a lot too. I don’t know how to find one here in Bangalore. There is one good Internal Medicine physician who comes to Fortis who is quite decent, and I’ve been sticking with her since the last 3-4 years.
@Sneha Sunny Looks like that is a problem.
@Jon Well, I am sure that must be the case in older days. It is mostly pecuniary benefit that is drive the overzealous efforts to order tests.
It is strange. We hear that India is pretty good in healthcare now and people go from here for treatment in particularly expensive surgeries.
I guess India has not changed.
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