Productive societies discuss and debate on matters of common concern. Society of Jammu & Kashmir has discussed and written a lot about the private educational institutions functioning here regarding their admission policies, monthly fees, books, Transport charges, etc. but less is being talked about or written about the most important sector which is the private health sector of the UT. The flourishing of the Private sector along with the government sector is the pre-requisite for the larger benefit of the masses and the overall economic development of any region as the joint sector is the new mantra of sustainable economic growth. The Public-private partnership is the recognized model of investment for the projects paving the way for economic prosperity and the generation of employment. In the last two decades, the private sector in J&K has emerged as a big stakeholder in the process of economic development of the region and has changed the economic landscape especially in the education and health sectors. The private health sector in J&K has contributed tremendously to the economic development of J&K besides the generation of employment for a considerable number of people. A good number of private hospitals, nursing homes, private clinics, and labs have emerged on the scene offering pivotal multiple healthcare services and have created considerable job opportunities for our young boys & girls that are commendable & praiseworthy. These all facilities have brought relief to the general masses to a large extent but this is also a reality that these health sector institutes lack accountability and professionalism which badly impacts their quality services delivery mechanism. Undoubtedly, the Private Sector has reshaped the landscape of healthcare in Jammu & Kashmir. But the following concerns need immediate intervention and attention:
1. One expects a doctor practicing in the private sector to be more professional and the first impression of professionalism is respecting time but the first causality in private health care institutes is the time. Exceptions are there but doctors never arrive on time thus not only wasting the time of patients, and their attendants but also disturbing the plans in the line of the attendants and the institution as well.
2. Professionalism aims at customer/client satisfaction, Sometimes doctors never give a patient hearing and a good time to the patient for his satisfaction. There are instances that doctors get irritated if a patient tries to explain his medical history, it may be a behavioural problem of a doctor or it may be a strategy to cut it short so that more & more patients can be attended to earn hefty amounts on account of fee. This not only damages the reputation of a doctor but also leaves ailing patients dissatisfied. It is also witnessed that if a patient is visiting for the first time to the doctor when he has to pay a fee he gets considerably good time as compared to a follow-up visit when the fee is not to be paid.
“Health sector institutes lack accountability and professionalism which badly impacts their quality services delivery mechanism.”
3. There are examples that doctors prescribing unnecessary medical tests that are not required at all just to put a few bucks in their pockets in the name of commission already decided with the labs.
4. It is also a reality that sometimes unnecessary or substandard medicines are prescribed just to get gifts, and commission from companies this is not only against the code of conduct of the medical profession but unethical as well.
5. These healthcare institutions have carved unique ways and means to collect revenue from patients. They even did not leave a patient without charging for his vehicle parking, for other facilities you can imagine.
6. There is the worst form of corruption “Chai system” which is no less than a nuisance in these private hospitals you need to provide chai to sweepers, room attendants, nursing attendants, theatre attendants, etc. The worst case we witness is if a child is born in these institutions you need to spend thousands on account of Chai or Methai. These hospitals /nursing homes have become the hub of corrupt practices.
7. The appointment of medical representatives is one more concern. We must not be against their job and keeping in view their nature of job, appointment with doctors is the basic prerequisite of their job but sometimes the situation for a patient and his attendants gets awkward when medical representatives outnumber the patients. This concern must be addressed by the administration.
8. Despite prescribed rates by the competent authorities, the prices charged by these healthcare institutes for offering services are so exorbitant that sometimes go beyond the budget of a large chunk of the masses. If rates charged could have been genuine and well-controlled. The rush in government hospitals could have been managed to a larger extent.
9. The recent most gruesome & inhumane incident of the Kolkata doctor rape-murder case has shaken the conscience of everyone and has set an alarm bell to look into the security apparatus available in these hospitals and take appropriate measures wherever necessary.
These institutions should shoulder the responsibility of society by spending some part of their profits under CSR initiatives for the overall development of society.
The private healthcare system is an ecosystem created to suck the blood of common masses where only doctors cannot be blamed but it is a chain of people and institutes ranging from a pharmacist and lab technician to the owner of the healthcare facility centre. With full respect to the doctors, if this ecosystem has to be made accountable, responsible & professional doctors have a pivotal role. There are established sets of norms, and rules from the inception to the operation of these institutions that need to be implemented in letter and spirit and erring ones need to be dealt with in the preview of law. These healthcare sector institutes need to be made more accountable and deliver services with professionalism.
(The author is a freelancer .The views, opinions and conclusions expressed in this article are those of the author and aren’t necessarily in accord with the views of “Kashmir Horizon”)
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