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APMC issues warning to doctors and hospital regarding exorbitant rates

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MD Bureau    11 August 2020

The Andhra Pradesh Medical Council (APMC) had issued a warning to doctors and hospitals cautioning them not to cheat patients by charging overpriced rates during the current pandemic situation.

The council has also referred to the Indian Medical Council Code of Medical Ethics and instructed all registered medical practitioners to display their fees and other charges on the notice board of the hospitals they visit.

This initiative has been designed to keep strict alertness on the unjustified advantage of patients conditions during the coronavirus outbreak by charging excessive rates. APMC Chairman Dr. B Sambasiva Reddy had issued the order on 8th August 2020 and appreciated the services offered by the Registered Medical Practitioners during this COVID-19 pandemic.

The order has highlighted that as per regulation 1.8 of Indian Medical Council (IMC) 2002, a doctor can only declare the charges after giving service to the patient and not when the operation or treatment is still underway.

Emphasizing on the fact that the council is authorized to take disciplinary action on any medical practitioner or any corporate hospital, if they are found charging extra charges. The order also mentioned that it is unethical to have a contract of "no cure no payment". Physicians offering service on behalf of the state should abstain from anticipating or accepting such consideration.

The order also referred to the regulations 3.7 of IMC 2002, which instructs that a doctor should mention his fee structure in the Display Board of his clinic or in the hospital which he is visiting. Also, the prescription should be clear if the physician is dispensing any medicine himself.

The Council has warned that if any facility or doctor is found while violating these guidelines then they would have to face disciplinary action according to the Andhra Pradesh medical practitioner registration act and also Indian Medical Council regulation. The council also made clear that if they receive any complaint by any patient regarding overcharging then they will be given complete authority to probe the whole matter to decide whether any medical practitioner was actually involved in any unethical practice.

Source: Medical Dialogues

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