Written By: Bhavyajyoti Chilukoti | Updated : September 1, 2014 12:34 PM IST
The Rajya Sabha's proposal to cap doctor's consultation charges has created chaos in the medical fraternity. If the proposal is approved, the Indian Medical Association (IMA) is ready to go to the court even though patient bodies and activists are supporting the move. This proposal entitled 'Regularisation of Doctors' Fees' was put forth by Renuka Chowdhury, a Congress leader.
The proposal involves formation of an expert committee to put a cap on the consultation charges which can be achieved by studying the pattern of the charging fees and classifying the services rendered by doctors. The current consultation charges range from hundreds to thousands which is dependent on the speciality and seniority of the doctor. Dr Jayesh Lele, IMA secretary questioned 'Never in the history of India has regularisation of consultation fees been implemented on any of the professionals. Then why are doctors targeted this time?' He further said, 'IMA has already consulted legal professionals to look into this matter and are well prepared to take this matter to the court. Also, it is against the constitutional rights to put a cap on remuneration of professionals.'
We have asked a few healthcare professionals what they thought about Parliament's idea to levy a cap on doctor's consultation fees? Most of the Doctors said that they are not against the move, but they feel that the proposal will not help in anyway. Dr Arjun Srivatsa, Neurosurgeon and Spine Surgeon said, 'Will the proposal address corporate hospital payment to the doctors and private clinics where the full amount collected is not given to doctors? Will there be an act ensuring the doctors get that consultation fee. Increasing costs in hospitals are partly driven by government rules and regulations, which makes private hospitals unable to break even for long time.'
At the same time, Dr Ramen Goel, senior metabolic and bariatric surgeon, Hinduja Healthcare, Khar said, 'This move is draconian. In an open market economy the prices of services are determined by the experience & training of professionals. It cannot be uniform & should not be capped. This is beginning & very soon lawyers, journalists & other professionals will also face a similar situation.' Whereas Dr Mohan Thomas, leading cosmetic surgeon and MD, Cosmetic Surgery Institute, Mumbai said, 'The Government of India along with other nations took it upon themselves to put the Doctors and Medicine into consumerism. There are enough options out there for people from different financial strata's to seek medical care depending upon their finances.'
When asked about what other options do they think the government has to help lower premium healthcare costs as this move might not benefit underprivileged access to good medical care, the answer was to cut down the cost of medical units (devices and instruments) which will ultimately lower the overall cost. Dr Raman said, 'Universal insurance is the solution to providing affordable care, rather attempts to lower the cost.' Whereas Dr Arjun replied, 'The doctor fee usually is only about 9-11% of bills. Incentives to government doctors, improving the facilities at government hospitals and medical insurance are few things which the government can do, instead of capping consultation charges.' Dr Mohan said, 'Health care is expensive worldwide and a modified form of socialized medicine (such as the NHS in UK or the Canadian system may be an option) and might serve the underprivileged better.'
Almost all doctors replied that private healthcare is an unorganized sector and individual doctors cannot influence government policies equally, when they were questioned why physicians are the only one's targeted. Dr Raman said, 'Individual doctors cannot influence government policies and the government cannot arm twist lawyers & media professionals for obvious reasons, which is why doctors are at the receiving end.' Dr Arjun supported the answer by saying, 'It's a knee jerk reaction to whole lot of things happening in the medical field. Why cap doctors charges when everyone else fights for more of the pie.'
Dr Mohan said, 'Doctors have always been soft targets for all actions - patients wrath, income tax and other agencies. Doctors constitute a group which is too busy working in their own areas of speciality instead of perhaps having lobbyists look after their interests such as other professions.'
Image Source: Getty Images
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