Surgeries surge as corporate pressure mounts
In order to meet corporate hospital targets, more patients fall prey to unethical medical advice and undergo avoidable surgery. In the backdrop of Chennai seeing an unprecedented increase in number of surgeries, the Times of India states, “Hospitals drive docs to do avoidable surgeries to meet corporate targets”. In an earlier article, TOI noted that a medical second opinion services centre in Mumbai found that almost 44% of the 12,500 patients for whom surgery was recommended were advised against it by their second opinion consultants.
Today, the issue continues as a series of interviews of surgeons conducted by The Times of India reveal that patients are quite often compelled to undergo surgeries that are not required. Shockingly, an orthopedic surgeon employed with a corporate hospital says, “We have a quota to meet every month. Many of us see patients as a potential candidate on our operating table. Only two out of five, however, agree. Many go for a second opinion – and don’t return.”
Pune-based NGO SATHI (Support for Advocacy and Training to Health Initiatives), prepared a report on corruption in health care on the basis of testimonies of 78 such medical professionals. SATHI coordinator Dr.Abhay Shukla said, “A doctor said he was pulled up by the hospital administration for having only a 10 percent ‘conversion rate’”
He went on to say that it is not entirely the fault of doctors as they get only 12.5% of the cost of surgery and the rest goes to the hospital. Furthermore, former editor of the Indian Journal of Medical Ethics, George Thomas, regretfully points to the lack of proper checks and balances in the country. “Any system that rewards a doctor for the number procedures he does is liable to abuse,” he said.
Also, in certain cases surgery becomes a precautionary measure rather than an emergency, says Dr VS Natarajan, who recommends early surgery for the elderly as they have other conditions like hypertension, diabetes, etc that could aggravate the problem.
Increasingly patients are exercising their own judgment and going in for second opinions and alternative methods of treatment.
