Regarding the subject of overcharging patients, its become a common norm that doctors charge nothing less than 200 - 300 in Goa with no receipts. Even the follow up visit is charged, which should be free to see the progress of the medicines prescribed. But who to complaint these matters?
I had been in Mumbai for few days and happened to visit three doctors there, and I was zapped beyond words, when the charges were Rs 50 and less by all these three doctors. It made me wonder if I was really with some doctors in Mumbai. This was all at Mira Road in Mumbai. Jerry Fernandes Subject: [Goanet] OVERCHARGING PATIENTS Message-ID: <can1gce3er-cchjx7tw_hhvmisg9qc57qctax80ela__ubty...@mail.gmail.com> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8 OPEN LETTER TO DR. FRANCISCO COLACO Sub : This has reference to the letter dt. 18th Dec, 2014, by Dr. Francisco Colaco in one the section of Press on 'OVERCHARGING PATIENTS" You are not the only person who have come across to such disparities on overcharging fees by a private Hospital at North Goa, but I still remember that a friend of mine Adv. Rui Ferreira telling me that he too had met a similar treatment in one of the private Hospital at Campal -Panjim for overcharging fees to his relative for a minor sickness. Many such cases are found in Goa with such atrocities on overcharging fees by private Hospitals. It has become a trend by most of the doctors charging consultation fees of not less than Rs. 200/- per patient but in case he comes to know that the patient is rich or coming from abroad (Dubai), the charges shoots up further. Also the next consultation for the same illness the fees are being charged. Even they are been charged for any investigation report is shown in the next day. What a common man will do if such offences are continuing by these private doctors in Goa? Where is the Medical Council or any Govt Medical Authority or in that respect the Minister of Health is looking for? There is no control, and still worst that we have crack doctors mushrooming in Goa, with no permission from Medical Council but having clinics all around the city who get quite number of patients because their consultation fees are much less than a qualified doctor. Will the Health Minister of Goa, Adv. Francisco D'Sousa will be able to understand such disparities where the patients are been put in heavy financial loss? Thank God that the GMC Hospital at Bambolim, is much better now, but there is still a scope to further improve. We also noticed that there is a pilferage on medicines and treatment on surgeries above the limits of a common mam as the Govt exchequer is being affected. It is high time that present Health Minister regulates all these atrocities and put an end all these illegalities going on in the state of Goa which includes private consultation by the Govt doctors. Stephen Dias Social Worker D.Paula Mob: 9422443110