The three ‘Cardinal Sins’ which have done harm to the ‘MEDICAL PROFESSION’ in India

By Dr J.K Bhutani

A practicing doctor's take on the sins of medical profession in India

A Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court Monday recalled its order which had held the all-India common entrance test for medical admissions as 'illegal' and unconstitutional' on the ground that it interfered with the right of private, minority and linguistic institutions to admit students……!

The restoration of NEET for MBBS/BDS and MD/MDS by the honorable Supreme Court is indeed a progressive decision. The introduction of NEET in 2012 by MCI, though a step in the right direction was thwarted by the powerful lobby of politicians who own most of the private medical colleges and have a solid-illegal business of nearly 25000 crores plus every year. Unfortunately the sane VOICE of Justice Anil.K.Dave who dissented to the partisan decision (2:1) of July-2013, which was delivered on flimsy grounds and (may be) some ulterior motives of the honorable judges, has prevailed for the good of the profession, society and the nation.
A doctor needs to pass the rigor of the merit-based-entrance, intensive training and the massive load and expectations of sick patient to have a satisfying career and also to retain the PRESTIGE and GLORY of this noble profession. A capitation-fed, poorly trained and pampered-one-rich-quota- doctor is neither good for the profession nor the patient.
The seething painful scars of 'VYAPAM scam of MP' and many such scams of almost all the private medical colleges and the deemed universities in the minds of impressionable budding doctors and public, surely are in for some relief at last.
The repute and the prestige of medical profession is not ALL the fault of the doctors but the fallout of many unrealistic government législations and blind aping of the American healthcare-model.
The three 'Cardinal Sins' which have done harm to the 'MEDICAL PROFESSION' in India are….

1. Inclusion of 'Art of Medical Practice' in Consumer Protection Act-1986
2. Unregulated Privatization and CAPITATION Medical Education in 1990
3. Health as a 'RUTHLESS target oriented business model' by corporate India in 1990s.

The reversal of capitation is just one REVERSAL which the Honorable court has expectantly addressed. we need more reversals of the above sins too.
NO society can be a cherished place if it practices HEALTH as a PROFIT or BUSINESS
The history shall teach us one day in future that HEALTH as a service, social responsibility and charity is the ONLY way to heal the mankind…!
We need to learn from Cuba and Britain and not blindly follow America.

Dr J.K Bhutani MD is a protagonist of preventive and promotive health care based on austere biology and facilitating self healing powers of human organism. He practices in Karnal, Haryana. Twitter: @drjkbhutani