hospital charges

October 8, 2025 by drsarojpatnaik@gmail.com

For instance, when patients struggle to pay hospital charges, I may choose to waive my fees, but I still encounter criticism. The real issue lies in systemic failures: private doctors are expected to provide public-level prices and act as unpaid social workers, while administrators continue to profit. Unlike many other professions, we must constantly justify our fees while trying to balance compassion for those who are suffering.

Turning a blind eye to human suffering is unacceptable. I have seen families struggling to afford even basic care—real people facing genuine hardships. That’s why I waive fees: to heal, not to drive families deeper into debt.

However, it is unjust to expect doctors to shoulder the burden of a broken healthcare system alone. When governance fails, it is doctors, not politicians, who bear the weight. The root of the problem lies with policymakers who underfund public healthcare and then shift the blame onto doctors.

Until these policies change, doctors will continue to fill the gaps left by the system’s shortcomings. Please do not blame us; we are striving to keep healthcare afloat, not causing its collapse.

Healthcare in India: Why Doctors Bear the Burden of a Broken System

October 8, 2025 by drsarojpatnaik@gmail.com

In India, doctors often face harsh criticism for the rising costs of healthcare, while hospitals and administrators typically avoid scrutiny. I have waived countless fees for patients who cannot afford treatment, yet it is doctors—not officials—who are labelled as heartless. We are held responsible for a broken system that is far beyond our control.