Association of Healthcare Providers India (AHPI) and the Indian Medical Association (IMA) have observed that compensation for medical negligence is far more expensive than the medical care which is provided to patients. Following the huge increase in the number of cases filed against doctors and the significant rise in the premiums paid to insurance companies, healthcare providers view this as huge expenditure. Hospitals and doctors are now reluctant to take on complicated cases for fear of medico-legal issues and many have stopped their practice.
In India, this only adds to the already severe shortage of specialists. It is the patient who suffers, deprived of adequate medical care of an acceptable standard. Another factor for increased cost is the practice of defensive medicine, which sees a need for excessive investigations done by the clinician for fear of being questioned in the…
