Srinagar: Attribute it to pathetic condition of healthcare services in Jammu and Kashmir and complete policy paralysis, non- resident doctors from reputed hospitals of the country claiming varied expertise are coming to state and looting patients in the pretext of special treatment, and are extracting hefty amount of money from the gullible patients.
Sources in the health department told KNS that dozens of doctors especially from renowned hospitals of the country in Delhi could be seen visiting Jammu as well as Kashmir every month and issue advertisements through print and electronic media enticing patients to come to their hospitals for specialized treatment.
They alleged that these doctors have tie ups with various private nursing homes with whom they have undeclared business understanding.
Sources alleged that these doctors and their agents mentally prepare the patient to visit their hospitals and everyone in this chain gets their due share.
In one such case, a patient (name withheld) had to face a worst experience after he had seen an advertisement in a newspaper that reads a senior-most doctor from one of the top private hospital of Delhi would be available in the Srinagar on a particular date.
My 13-year old son was going through acute infection in his left arm. I visited the said doctor at one of the private hospitals in valley and he charged me Rs 1000 and asked me to get some tests done which cost me around ten thousand rupees. But all the tests were positive and the next month I along with my son visited the doctor who mentally prepared me to visit him in the hospital outside the state for the surgery which according to him would cost Rs 3 lakh, said one patient.
Sources said that there is a nexus between private hospitals of state and outside doctors. Nexus is going on between doctors and hospitals who are looting patients. The patients who visit such doctors are mostly cheated. These doctors after visiting here first ask the patients to undergo the tests in respective clinics and nursing homes here at higher rates and later they are mentally prepared to visit their (doctors) clinics in states like Delhi and Chandigarh, sources said.
A senior doctor posted in SMHS hospital also said that most of these outside doctors who visit the valley are surgeons. We rarely see physicians coming.
He said majority of these doctors have done their degrees in foreign countries like Russia, Bangladesh and China. There is no check whether these doctors have qualified the Medical Council of India (MCI) examinations or not, he added.
Sources said that when a doctor whether physician, consultant or surgeon comes here and prescribes tests like – pathology, radiology, X-rays, MRIs etc. – the laboratory conducting those tests give them commissions. (KNS)
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