Let doctors follow medical ethics

Physicians are required to swear to uphold certain ethical standards in their profession. They are expected to serve the ailing humanity with utmost sincerity and a missionary zeal without the slightest thought of fleecing patients in dire need of medical help. Even not long ago, doctors were held with high esteem in the society because of their selfless services. However, the scenario is different now.

A top bureaucrat of the government gets Tk 45,000 monthly salary, i.e., Tk 1,500 per day on an average. In the same country, a specialised doctor, after doing regular job in government hospitals or entities earns Tk 16,000 every evening. It is collected from 20 patients @ Tk 800 per visit of 10 to 15 minutes. Some doctors attend more than 20 patients every evening. Indeed, Tk 100 should be charged from a patient per visit even the doctor concerned has a specialised degree. A doctor can earn Tk 50,000 in 25 working days in a month in addition to his regular salary and other service benefits if he charges Tk 100 fee per patient per visit.

It is a usual complaint that at every first appointment, a doctor suggests a long list of diagnostic tests. Suppose eight tests are carried out following advice of a doctor, it is observed that most of the test results appear normal. One or two test result shows some deviations from normal condition (standard). Some time, no abnormal result is observed. The patient quite rightly thinks that the doctor had recommended more tests than actually required. As investigative press reports say, many doctors have a nexus with diagnostic centres to collect their commission. Of course, there are hundreds of doctors who do not accept such illegal money and behave responsively.

Indeed, a large number of patients do not go to doctors owing to high consultancy fee and fear of diagnostic test cost. They rather go to pharmacies and ask for medicines describing their problems.

The Bangladesh Medical Council should do something to change the situation. A couple of decades back, the government fixed the fees of doctors and also charges for diagnostic tests. Those should be up dated and enforced strongly. The present diagnostic charges of BSMMU may be considered as standard. The evening private practice fees fixed by the BSMMU can also be fixed for different categories of doctors for private practice. The fixed fees and charges should be well publicised in print and electronic media.

The Directorate of National Consumer Rights may monitor and detect violators and bring them to justice.

 mah120cb@yahoo.com