DONT HANG THE DOC !!
I seriously wonder ,why the Doctors are always blamed when it comes to improper health care of the country.(The Doctor only knows Economics-Outlook, Feb 18,2013)
I would like to emphasise here, that the doctor plays a very small role in the medical care being rendered, its cost and availability. Most of the time, the doctors ,are struggling themselves ,where ever they are working, to execute their duty to provide proper treatment…………! Planning the medical care and setting the infrastructure is the responsibility of the government and most of the corporate hospitals are owned and run by non medicos, who decide not only the rates of the treatment but even the list of basic investigations and its sequencing. The complete medical fraternity cannot be blamed and maligned for a handful of private practioners who may be resorting to malpractice.
Being a citizen of India and a doctor myself, I would add however, that though medical care is the basic need of every man, the Medicare system is far from satisfactory in the country. And the most important role to be played ,is by the Government. Primary health centres and hospitals with free and affordable proper treatment, within the reach of all Indians is an immediate requirement.
Above all the need of the hour is medical audit, where in we can lay down treatment guidelines to be followed for treatment ,at government and corporate hospitals and also to define the cost of the treatment at various centres. We need a strong policing system to check ,malpractice and over billing of medical services.
The medical care system of the country needs urgent life saving treatment !!