Southern States - Tamil Nadu   

What have govts. done to curb unhealthy practices in hospitals?

By Our Special Correspondent

CHENNAI MAY 20. Taking a serious view of "unethical and despicable" practices followed by some private hospitals and doctors attached to them, the State Human Rights Commission has asked the Union and State Governments about the steps they have taken to curb such activities.

The Secretaries of the Health Departments have been ordered to file their replies by June 16.

"It is the Government's duty to protect innocent patients from unethical and unprofessional practices of doctors," the Commission member, S. Sambandham, said in his order on a petition.

In his petition to the rights body, S. Reddy (address not given) submitted that patients who visited some hospitals for minor ailments were directly referred for CT scan, MRI and other processes costing from Rs. 15,000 to 20,000. In the past, when scan and imaging facilities were not available, X-ray and other clinical laboratory investigations were done and doctors arrived at the diagnosis, examining the patients clinically.

At present, most reputed doctors were compelled by hospital authorities to ask the patients to undergo investigations at diagnostic centres, which were not well equipped. The reason: Most diagnostic centres gave the doctors 50-60 per cent of the amount collected from patients. Some hospitals misused ventilators and made huge money out of the facility.

The petitioner furnished the names of four hospitals, which allegedly indulged in malpractices.

Mr. Sambandham said the Commission had also received several oral representations about the `unethical' practices adopted by some private hospitals, nursing homes and doctors fleecing innocent patients by putting them through all clinical tests even though investigation was not necessary. "It is well known that private hospitals, nursing homes and polyclinics are being run on a commercial basis and practices followed there are far from satisfactory, if not reprehensible."

Most medical institutions ran their own laboratories and diagnostic centres. Doctors there did not do any clinical examination for patients with minor ailments, but referred them to their laboratories and diagnostic centres and the charges there were high. Most of the unattached laboratories were ill-equipped. "They have a tie-up with private practitioners and both flourish at the expense of unfortunate patients." These practices were on the increase. There was no reliable mechanism to check these malpractices, said Mr. Sambandham.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Southern States

News: Front Page | National | Southern States | Other States | International | Opinion | Business | Sport | Miscellaneous |
Advts: Classifieds | Employment | Obituary |

Stories in this Section

• Ex-Minister Kiruttinan murdered
• Victim of inner-party feud?
• Supporters suspect political motive
• What have govts. done to curb unhealthy practices in hospitals?
• DVAC searches in Ko. Si. Mani's houses
• Infrastructure Development: Govt. role must be defined
• Semmalai makes fresh plea, but students stand firm
• Narcotics sleuths probing illegal manufacture of ATS
• To avoid delay, controller will sign Madras varsity UG degrees
• Tourism package linking southern States soon: Dattatreya
• Recognition for 5 PG medical courses after 25 years
• Revaluation of TNPCEE answer sheets
• Who will compensate losses incurred by patients, asks HC
• Ruling, Opposition trade unions staying away from strike
• Tiruchi girl's distinction

Copyright © 2003, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu