Saturday, July 14, 2007

Private medical practice

Someone said, " The consumer (patient) goes to the doctor with total trust, submits to the various procedures recommended and seldom questions the fees that are being charged".

As private medical practice is so lucrative, it is difficult to keep good doctors in the public sector.

What is the underlying problem?

* we allow medical practice to be a business
* we leave to the free market
* the consumers are at a disadvantage
* the doctors have a conflict of interest

What is a better solution?

* medicine should be a profession (not a business)
* doctors should operate on a code of ethics (i.e. look after the patient's interest)
* consumers need access to impartial, independent advice
* some suitable body (the government?) should monitor the conduct of doctors
* the interest of consumers should be better protected

My remark applies to many other services, including the marketing of financial services.

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