With reference to Anjuli Bhargava's "It takes only one bad egg" (July 26), she hits the nail on the head when she narrates the horrifying experiences of her friend at a luxury hospital (read: medical hotel) at Gurgaon. Honestly speaking, this has become a universal feature at most high ranking private hospitals across the country, which devise newer plans everyday to concentrate more on patients' comfort rather then on treatment.
Apart from this, the most disturbing aspect is the prescription of very costly drugs (available at outlets in the concerned hospitals and/or at some specified chemist shops only), suggesting unnecessary surgical procedures and recommending longer stay as they firmly believe in "treating" you according to the size of your pockets. It may also be added that even the doctor's visiting fee is directly linked to the category of room you chose. Unfortunately, this "innovative" list is endless.
While it may be fine for those who can afford the luxury thereof but virtual denial of medical facilities to the masses (owing to prohibitive cost) may go against the grain of the national mission of "Good health for all". How can ordinary people imagine entering such medical dreamlands?
It is also pertinent to point out that the issue of shortage of qualified doctors in the midst of a flood of fake ones is adding fuel to fire in our country. It is, thus, time for the government to rise to urgently take steps to salvage some lost reputation for the medical profession.
Vinayak G, Bengaluru
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