Corruption in healthcare needs an immediate crackdown

Bhopal/Delhi: Corruption in the country is deep rooted in every sector, including the healthcare sector. The Indian healthcare system is rife with corruption, and much of this corruption arises from the way that healthcare is regulated. This is applicable for both – public and private sector healthcare institutions.
In other sectors, it is not a matter of life and death. But in healthcare, it is.
For a little extra money, there are doctors who even sell their souls. Their greed has led to so m any deaths on the operation table and health complications due to wrong medication.
The nexus between doctors and pharmaceutical companies is well known. Payments to physicians by the pharmaceutical industry are common, but recent evidence shows that these payments influence physician prescribing behaviour in the form of increased prescription of branded drugs, which are quite expensive.

According to a recent survey by Transparency International (A global coalition against corruption) has revealed that India has the highest bribery rate in Asia, and 24 per cent Indians admitted they bribed healthcare workers, clinic or hospital staff to get medical care.
As per the survey 39 per cent of the respondents had paid a bribe for public services in the country, especially health and education.
With 24 per cent, India was the second-highest country in terms of medical bribes in a list that was topped by China. According to the survey, 26 per cent of Chinese said they had paid a bribe for medical care.

As per this study, 43 per cent of respondents felt the quality of service in government hospitals was poor. In low performance states, 53 per cent felt service was poor. 67 per cent felt corruption was widespread in government hospitals and 45 per cent said hospital staff frequently demanded bribes.

In another research put out by the National Library of Medicine in 2022, shows an alarming annual incidence rate of up to 5.2 million cases related to medical malpractice across various healthcare settings in India.

The rising cases of medical corruption in courts show the growing distrust of patients with doctors. This is a serious issue because traditionally, doctors have been considered next to God. The question is, how much money is enough? Is money so important that a patient’s life can be jeopardised willingly?

The multiple and ever serious allegations and indictments related to corruption shows that the Medical Council of India (MCI), the statutory body responsible for regulating medical education, professional and ethical standards in the medical profession, has clearly failed in its duty.

The controversy raging over the irregularities in results of NEET-UG 2024 (mandatory national entrance exam for MBBS degree) just shows that the disease of corruption has spread its tentacles far and wide. Even the young medical aspirants have not been spared.

Corruption affects the health sector in many ways. It can take money away from healthcare, lead to poorer quality care and make access to healthcare unfair, and often affects poor people the hardest.

It is important to investigate and punish corrupt doctors. Political interference in every aspect of governance has affected the entire governance system in every sphere. It is therefore important to delink political influence on appointment of doctors in various key positions. That should be left to a team of experts.

Political appointees tend to act with high handedness and throw the ethics code out of the window. People’s lives are at stake. It cannot be taken lightly anymore.
Immediate crackdown on corruption in healthcare is the need of the hour.

*Dr. Naresh Purohit-MD, DNB, DIH, MHA, MRCP(UK), is an Epidemiologist, Advisor-National Communicable Disease Control Program of Govt. of India, Madhya Pradesh and several state organizations.)

Dr.  Purohit is also Principal Investigator for the Association of Studies For Kidney Care.