It’s been more than a week since the Prime Minister has announced the demonetization of Rs.500 and Rs.1,000 currency notes. And life across the nation has been affected by it-many people experiencing negative impact of the move. Doctors too are not exempt from the negative impacts.

Doctors criticized for turning away patients when they rarely have anything to do with such decisions

Though the government has directed government hospitals and pharmacies to continue accepting old notes till November 24, a few incidents of patients suffering because they had just the old notes and no legal tender have been reported in the media. Some of them are mentioned here:

In Mumbai, a hospital apparently refused to admit a prematurely born baby. The reason was that the parents didn’t have legal currency notes, just Rs 500 bills with which they could pay the deposit. The situation culminated in the death of the child.

In Vishakhapatnam, an 18-month baby who suffered from fever died since her parents couldn’t pay for diagnostic tests using valid currency. In Manipur, treatment was denied for a one year old with high fever since his parents didn’t have legal tender. The doctors advised that the child be taken to a public hospital. However, the child died once he was moved to his home. In Pali district in Rajastan, the father of a newborn who required specialized care was unable to pay for an ambulance to a bigger hospital situated in Jodhpur.

One consequence of all this is that doctors are coming under criticism for ‘turning patients away.’ Though the minutiae of the aforementioned instances are not known, it’s hard to believe that in all such situations it’s the doctor who takes the decision to turn the patient away. More often than not, that’s an administrative decision.

Alternative arrangements on this regard-like the acceptance of cheques etc. would not only help the patients but also remove the unfair criticism that doctors come under.

Tarnishing doctor’s reputation claiming they have been raided by taxmen

One of the more bizarre consequences of demonetization happened to Dr R B Sinha of Chhapra in Bihar.

It began with the rumors that taxmen were raiding local doctors to pry out unaccounted cash. In the process, it was said, some of the doctors had suffered cardiac arrests. These rumors then began to go viral on social media from last Friday. As per rumor-mongers, Dr Sinha was one who had a cardiac arrest; more than that he died due to it.

The doctor’s staff then received enquiries from patients regarding whom they must consult now that the doctor was no more.
According to the doctor, the rumormongers have tarnished his reputation. He has urged the media to get to the truth and expose the antisocial elements.

Dr Sinha actually called for a press meet on Tuesday and declared, “I am alive!”

While Dr Sinha’s experience might be uncommon, the claim that many innocent doctors are under scrutiny by the taxman for hoarding wealth is damaging many a doctor’s reputation. And that’s unacceptable.

Image credits: qz.com

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