The demonetization of 500 and 1000 rupee notes has left a large number of people without enough money in hand to take care of their day to day affairs. Among them are a large number of patients. But while many hospitals are coming under criticism for turning patients away, doctors are doing their bit in their private practice to make sure patients are not facing issues due to the demonetization move.

While some doctors ask their patients to pay with cheque instead of hard cash, others advise the patients to visit them in private hospitals which accept plastic money. In cases where it’s possible, some doctors are deferring the appointments. There are also doctors who have shut down their chambers until the banks have enough cash to disburse.

As per a Times of India report, since demonetization the number of patients across private chambers has dropped to less than 50%. And doctors feel that it could slide even further if currencies are to stay scarce in the next week as well.

As Diptendra Sarkar, an onco-surgeon says, “We can neither refuse patients nor accept old notes. Many don’t use plastic money. So, cheques and credit are the only options. But the worrying thing is that scores are avoiding consultancy due to the cash crisis which could be dangerous for cancer patients. So, we are encouraging them to visit chambers even if they can’t pay now. It is up to us to find a way out for them.”

Doctors innovating modes of payment for patients

To help their patients, doctors have come up with ways to innovate the modes of payment. For instance, fees for multiple check-ups are being clubbed together and a future date is announced for the payment. Some doctors offer discount in case the patients don’t have enough change to pay the entire fee. And there are doctors who club diagnostic test charges with fees- something that makes payment easier.

As a senior practitioner said to the Times of India, “This method is working well since the fee and the test charge is adding up to a round figure and a bigger sum. Most diagnostic centres also accept cards, unlike doctors at private chambers.”

Up north, a body which organizes cancer treatment for the underprivileged-called ‘Bengal Oncology’ has asked all the patients to pay their cumulative fees at the end of the months. As cancer treatment is a long-drawn process, deferred payment is the best option, according to oncologist Gautam Mukhopadhyay. “In case a patient can pay more than 60% of the fee, we are foregoing the remaining. Those who have run out of cash can pay later. But we don’t accept cheques,” he said.

Some organizations also facilitate donations for cash-strapped patients. What they do at the Institute of Neurosciences Kolkata(INK) is a case in point. As Hrishikesh Kumar, head of the department of neurology says, “Even though the hospital accepts card payment, number of visitors at the outpatient department has dropped to 20%. We are helping some with donations and offering discounts. But clubbing fees with diagnostic charges is a strict no-no in our hospital.”

Meanwhile, non-priority treatments like fertility therapy has almost come to a stop. As Arindam Rath, a fertility expert, “It is expensive and you can’t do it unless you have enough cash. We are advising patients to wait.”

Image credits: thehindu.com
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