Is it a Crime to be a Doctor in India?
Guest article by Dr. Neeraj Nagpal
From the spirited defence of its gaffe the
NCERT has planted a question in my mind that is it a crime to be a Doctor in
India? Instead of apologizing for slanderous statements published in standard
textbook they have sought justification in the form of 200 “eminent” persons’
support. The signature campaign to gather support for their obvious error
is symptom of a much larger and a much widespread malady “hatred towards our
healers”. I am surprised when such a simple option exists and it is so obvious
to authors why then they and 75% of the population prefer private healthcare
providers to Government facilities. According to the authors, the Government
hospitals are paradise on earth but who drags them to private healthcare
establishments.
A seventh standard child who is
being fed such drivel is an innocent mind. He is in no position to understand
that “cost of treatment” is not what is paid by the patient but the cost to
cure. AIIMS conducted a study in 2012 on what it costs to get a laproscopic
procedure in AIIMS. Including what the exchequer spends and what the patient
pays they reported the cost to do a laproscopy procedure as Rs 50,000. I have a
nursing home and in 2012 our cost for the same to the patient inclusive of
everything was Rs 30,000. Even today anyone can get a laproscopic procedure
done at our centre for much less than Rs 50,000 it cost in AIIMS 3-4 years ago.
How then is the cost of treatment in a Government no profit center any cheaper.
Despite all allegations of kickbacks
against all doctors the cost of any investigation today is atleast 10 times
cheaper when compared with any developed country. This is when equipments used
in USA and India are all of same manafacturers but are much more costly in
India. We want compensations for medical negligence at par with the most
developed nations but want to pay 1/10th the cost. Consultation fee of a
private doctor in India is less than 50 times the cost in USA/Australia/UK. But
the private doctor in India is a cheat as per those who decide what our
children should be taught. I hope they are prepared to pay compensation if any
child of a private doctor suffers trauma due to bullying and ragging which he
has to undergo from friends and classmates who are taught such rubbish.
It is an open secret that a criminal
can turn easily into politicians some of whom still continue to be criminals. A
murder or two in the past is an asset for ticket seekers. Does the NCERT 7th
standard textbook consider it necessary to teach the student who can “grapple
with concrete experiences without being brainwashed” that all politicians are
criminals. It is known that a nexus exists between lawyers and judiciary to get
favourable judgments. Corruption in police, taxation authorities, is also well
known. Casting couch is an established fact in our film and fashion industry.
Electricity water supply connections cannot be gotten without greasing
appropriate palms. How disputed properties are amassed by those in positions of
power illegally is open secret. Does NCERT dare to publish such “facts known to
all” in its 7th standard textbook. No it is simply the private doctors who will
not retaliate who can be labelled as cheats in minds of a 7th standard student
so that tomorrow when he assaults a doctor in the emergency ward of any
hospital he does so with a justification.
My request to IMA, please do not go to press on this issue. Sue
the NCERT authors, and NCERT for an exemplary amount. Take example from the HC
judge who sued TOI for Rs 100 crore for erroneously publishing someone else’s
photograph with his name. All states do not require the court fee to sue
someone. The case can be filed in state where this issue of court fee will not
be a hindrance.
