The medical sector lacked a regulator, especially to oversee the functioning of private hospitals, noted Telangana Principal Secretary (health) Suresh Chanda.
“Doctors working in private hospitals are given a monthly target of revenue generation, as there is nobody to keep a check on private hospitals,” Mr. Chanda said addressing students a programme titled Innovations and Ethics in Health Sector , organised by the Centre for Innovations in Public System at the Administrative Staff College of India (ASCI), here on Saturday.
Recollecting his own experience at a private hospital, where he was asked to conduct unnecessary medical tests, Mr. Chanda said such tests were being done in a “wholesale and retail” way. “Of course, government hospitals are not in any good condition,” he admitted, and added that health care must be affordable and accessible for the rural populace as well.
Other speakers at the event also pointed out the rising costs of medical care, and the lacunae in government hospitals.
Padma Bhushan awardee B.M. Hegde said the healthcare system in western countries was “very bad for human beings”.
“Our problem is that we do not understand that. Take vaccination – it is a big business. More than half of it comes from outside. They (foreign countries) want to test its effectiveness on us,” he asserted.
Dr. Hegde said there was a need to change India’s education system in medicine in order to improve the country’s health care.
