Majority feel medical profession is commercialised: survey

An overwhelming majority of people feel the medical profession has been commercialised, and that there is need to ensure affordable treatment for common people, a survey has revealed.

Around 78 percent of those surveyed felt the medical profession is commercialised, and affordable treatment for common people should be ensured, a questionnaire that 452 people took in Delhi revealed.

Many respondents (41 percent) even said that doctors should remember that theirs is a noble profession, and charge less as consultation fees.

Around 81 percent of the people said they were disturbed when they saw their doctors smoking, and would not like to be treated by a doctor who smoked in front of them, the survey conducted by Heart Care Foundation revealed.

Of the 452 respondents, 46 percent would prefer to speak to their doctors directly, and not to a secretary.

The survey, carried out mostly in middle- and upper middle-class sections, revealed that only about 57 percent of the people checked the credentials and qualifications of a doctor before visiting her or him.

Sixty-seven per cent of the respondents said they preferred an electronic prescription, and would like doctors to have a legible handwriting.

The survey also revealed that 60 percent of the people are not comfortable in discussing their sexual behaviour with the doctor when they go for consultation. Forty per cent did not want to be friends with their doctors on Facebook.

Thirty-seven per cent respondents felt doctors should be well dressed, while 65 percent believe that senior doctors with "grey hair" can provide better care than their younger counterparts, the survey found.

The respondents included patients, social workers, college students, morning walkers and government employees.

"The survey is done to assess the perception of the doctor-patient relationship among people... I have seen disputes between patients and doctors. I have tried to analyse the complaints of the patients. As a doctor, I wanted to know their expectations. The idea of conducting this survey thus came to my mind," chairman of the Heart Care Foundation and noted cardiologist K.K. Aggarwal told IANS.

According to Vinay Sanghi, principal interventionist cardiologist at the Fortis Escort Hospital Okhla, over the last decade the doctor-patient relationship has changed.

He said it was important for doctors to set a good example for their patients to promote healthy habits.