From general physicians to consultants and professors across Sindh, including Karachi, in their examination feesZIt has increased by 35 to 50 percent in the past three years.
Public health experts in the province say that there is no authority or policy on the part of the health department in Sindh to determine the fees of doctors and private hospitals, so every doctor and private hospital or clinic can decide on the fees. has increased.
From physicians to professors, their fees have increased from Rs 100 to Rs 2 thousand or more. In general areas, the fee of a doctor serving at a clinic ranges from Rs 150 to Rs 500 and the fees of medical specialists ranges from Rs 500 to Rs 3 thousand or more than Rs 5 thousand.
Sindh Healthcare Commission says that our job is not to determine the fees of doctors.
Patients say that increasing the fees of doctors in this era of inflation is inappropriate, the government should decide on a policy in this regard. Most of the patients are forced to seek temporary treatment due to high fees and increase in the cost of medicines.
The officials of the health department say that the reports of increase in fees are being reviewed, soon a policy will be formulated in this regard. While the Association of Private Hospitals has dismissed the reports of huge increase in fees as false.
Abbas Rizvi, a volunteer from a social organization working in the health sector, said that doctor consultation fees vary depending on the region. Urban areas and often rural areas have higher fees because of the difference in cost of living. is
Specialist doctors and those with more experience usually charge more. Fees for doctors in private and government hospitals also differ. Doctors in private practice charge consultation fees irregularly. Some doctors charge Rs 1000 to Rs 1500, which is beyond the reach of working class people. Failure to do so may result in denial of the right to health care.
To end the plight of poor people seeking healthcare through private chambers of doctors, the government should pass new rules or regulations and set reasonable rates.
He said that the display of consultation fee chart to the patients should be strictly ensured through proper monitoring.
Nighat, a woman working at another NGO working in the health sector, said the government could use the credit points system to fix the maximum and minimum consultation fees and credit points. Can be designed based on seniority, experience and success rate in treatment. In addition, the introduction of recovery of consultation fees will enable patients to substantiate their claims in case they are aggrieved by negligent advice from co-doctors. Doctor consultation fees can vary significantly based on several factors including In terms of location, specialty, convenience, fees are more expensive in urban areas, where the cost of living is higher, than in rural or sparsely populated areas.
Specialists, such as cardiologists or orthopedic surgeons, charge higher fees than general practitioners because of their advanced training and expertise. A doctor’s reputation and experience can also affect fees. Additionally, the type of health care facility, whether private, public, or government. Fees for counseling administered by Private clinics and hospitals generally charge more than public health institutions.
Public health expert Dr. Khalil Pathan said that diseases and health conditions can actually evolve and change over time due to various factors. Disease progression or progression can be influenced by the nature of the disease, the body’s response to treatment, lifestyle changes, and environmental factors. For chronic conditions, symptoms may fluctuate in severity or change in nature over time. For example, autoimmune diseases can present with different symptoms as the condition progresses or responds to treatment. Similarly, chronic diseases such as diabetes or high blood pressure can change in severity due to factors such as diet, medication adherence, or other health problems. Acute diseases, on the other hand, can develop rapidly.
A viral infection, for example, can change its effects as the body’s immune system responds, and symptoms can vary in severity and duration. Overall, the dynamic nature of diseases makes routine medical diagnosis and treatment difficult. Illustrates the importance of adjustments in plans.
Monitoring and adapting to changes in health conditions can help to effectively manage symptoms and improve overall health. The evolution of medicine has seen significant advances and changes over time that scientific understanding, Reflects improvements in technology and patient care.
Historically, medical practices were based on rudimentary knowledge of diseases and limited treatment options. Treatment often relies on herbal remedies, folklore and primitive surgical techniques. Over time, with the advent of modern science, changes have taken place in the field of medicine. The development of pharmaceuticals has completely changed medicine.
Early medicines were obtained from natural sources and had limited efficacy. Today, the pharmaceutical industry manufactures a wide range of medicines through sophisticated research and development processes. These include antibiotics, antivirals and biologics, which target specific diseases more effectively and with fewer side effects.
Public health expert Dr. Hafeez Memon said that there are different categories of fees for doctors, an ordinary doctor who is a general physician in the area where he runs his clinic, his fees would be as per the area which is at least 150 rupees. 350 to 500, in addition to a consultant doctor who specializes in his field, his fee also varies according to the hospital or region, which ranges from a minimum of Rs.600. 1200 and the third category of doctors are faculty members of any medical university with the rank of Assistant Professor to Professor with a fee ranging from Rs.2000 to Rs.5000.
He said that in the last three years, examination fees from doctor to professor have increased by 35 to 50 percent, meaning that these fees have increased from Rs 100 to Rs 2,000. Generally patients prefer to get medicine from medical store first in case of minor illness, nowadays medical store owners self-dispense medicines which is illegal.
He said that in view of the increase in the severity of the disease, first the local physician is preferred, if complications occur in the disease, then a consultant or a specialist professor of the disease is checked up.
He said that there are clinics at the regional level where the doctor also administers the medicine by himself along with the injection, but this process is now limited, while in the case of going to the disease specialist, he first tests for the disease and then prescribes the medicine. do
He said that treatment is becoming beyond the reach of the poor people in this inflationary situation. That is why people prefer temporary treatment of the disease, avoid permanent treatment due to poor financial condition, or go to the government hospital, where they endure all the difficulties to get treatment for their disease. Let’s try.
Amin, a resident of Korangi, said that his father had a stomach ache, when he approached a doctor nearby, he revealed a gastric problem, but after two days of treatment, there was no improvement. Paid 300 rupees as fee to the doctor per day, the fee of the same doctor was 200 rupees three months ago.
He said that I am employed in a private company, it has become very difficult to live with the increase in inflation and the limited salary, the electricity and gas bills have already burdened the back of the people. Due to the extraordinary increase in treatment has also become beyond the reach of the poor man.
He said that my father was shown to a gastrologist who prescribed medicines after the test, all this stage cost me more than 20 thousand rupees, the fee for one doctor’s visit was 1 thousand rupees.
A lady Hina said that she got kidney stones, doctors fees are very high while government hospitals are very crowded, my husband works as a dyer, I showed a lady homeo doctor in my locality who treated me. received the checkup fee from and instructed to get two medicines from homeo medical store, by using these medicines my disease is reduced and gradually this medical problem is getting resolved.
He said that in this era of inflation, there is a need to increase the medical facilities at the government level and the government should formulate a policy for determining the fees of doctors.
Dr. Labani, a public health expert, revealed that there is no policy or authority established by the health department to determine the prices of private doctors’ examination fees and facilities provided by private hospitals in Sindh. That is why every doctor charges his own fee.
Officials of private hospital associations say that private doctors or hospitals charge fees based on experience and services, adding that reports of huge increase in fees are not true.
Sindh Healthcare Commission Chairman Dr. Khalid Shaikh said that the work of our institution is to register and issue lines of private clinics and hospitals, it is not under our authority to determine the fees of doctors.
The officials of the health department say that the reports of increase in fees are being reviewed, soon a policy will be formulated in this regard.
