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Friday, November 18, 2005Health tourists are helping destabilise India's health system, doctors claim. They say too much is being spent on care for foreign patients and care for rich Indians - while public health care for poorer people is neglected. .....Dr Nundy, a gastro-intestinal surgeon, and Mr Sengupta say that, while a shoulder operation in the UK would cost 10,000 pounds at a private hospital, or entail a wait on the NHS, in India, the same procedure can be done for 1,700 pounds - and within 10 days of the first email contact. .....Dr Nundy and Dr Sengupta said the conditions seen by the poorest were seeking care were very different. 'Each harassed doctor may have to see more than 100 patients in a single outpatient session. 'Some of these doctors advise patients, legally or illegally, to `meet them privately' if they want more personalised care,' they said. Dr Nundy and Dr Sengupta said that there were even reports of hospital patients having to pay bribes to get clean bed linen. ...."It is time for the government to pay more attention to improving the health of Indians rather than to enticing foreigners from affluent countries with offers of low cost operations and convalescent visits to the Taj Mahal." If the government's not paying for the foreigners' operations, then how are those patients stealing healthcare services from the poor? Doesn't the income from the medical tourist trade result in more tax revenues for the government, which they can then spend on healthcare for the poor? It may be that India doesn't do enough for its poorest citizens, but it's doubtful that abolishing the private hospitals would help. posted by Sydney on 11/18/2005 08:39:00 AM 0 comments 0 Comments: |
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