Bribes buy services at Government Hospitals

Recently, 58-year-old Kumaran (name changed), who developed chest pain, wanted to meet a doctor immediately. However, he was not allowed to enter the doctor’s room at Stanley Medical College and Hospital - where he had visited for a regular check-up – until he paid a little extra fee to the ward boy. 

Kumaran is not alone. Despite claims by government hospitals that their services are free, many say that unless they pay several hundred rupees, they are unable to get access to basic facilities. Even though this is a cause of concern, it continues to be prevalent in all hospitals, said Prashanth Gautam of Arappor Iyakkam. The NGO had conducted a Citizen’s Audit of Public Health Services in the city recently. 

Across all government hospital, it is common to see bribes being collected from those who need a wheelchair or a stretcher or even to use the lift. As per the survey, it was found that the lift attendant at the Royapettah Government General Hospital allowed only those patients who paid him a bribe to use the lift and shut the door on those who were unable to pay. As the lift does not work on a frequent basis and specific lifts are reserved for doctors, the patients and their attenders are either forced to use the stairs or bribe the attendant to use the lift. 

However, the senior management of the hospital refuted the allegations. Stating that he was confident that there is no bribery involved, Dr Kannan, Medical Superintendent of the hospital said, “The lift has not been working in the General Surgery department since its inception and we are trying to set it right. I am confident there is no bribery involved. However, if a patient or an attendant has come across such an incident, he/she must prefer a complaint with our Vigilance Officer and the complaint must be given in writing. If proven guilty, the staff – in case he is a contract worker – will be asked to leave immediately, and in the case of a hospital staff, such a person will be suspended. Adding that they could warn all staff against collecting bribes, he said that it was easy to identify such cases – if any – during ward rounds.

During a visit to the Stanley Hospital, this reporter came across patients and attendants who complained of having to pay bribes for basic services such as dressing of wounds and getting the assistance of a hospital staff to push the wheelchair. “I had brought my mother to the hospital for a check-up. As her knees are weak, we got a wheelchair, but got no staff to help us. We paid a little tip to get some help,” said Soundari S (name changed).

It was also seen that patients were being charged Rs 5 to 10 to use the lavatories in the hospital premises. “I was shocked when a lady asked me for money when I was entering the toilet. I could not argue as it was urgent,” said Bhuvaneshwari (name changed).

During Arappor Iyakkam’s survey, the members came across cases of patients who also complained about high fees being charged to perform shaving prior to surgery for emergency cases. “As of now, we have not received any complaint. Unless there is a complaint, we do not take any action. However, if we do get a written complaint, we will surely take action,” said Dr Dhanasekaran Krishnan, Deputy Medical Superintendent at the hospital. While the allegations are not new, it is essential for the patients to know that there is a committee/vigilance officer to whom they can complain. “If a patient or attender gives a tip to the staff out of his own will, we do not get involved. However, if it is brought to our notice that the staff had made the demand, we will take strict action,” he added. 

Even at the Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital, the biggest government hospital in the country, people had to pay a bribe of Rs 300 to 500 for a fitness certificate, the study found. “If we get a complaint, we will call the complainant and the staff and conduct an enquiry. If proven, severe action will be taken,” said Dr Narayana Babu, Dean of the Hospital, adding, “There is a complaint box, and the contact details of the Dean, Medical Superintendent and other administrative staff are put up at prominent places, in case one needs to complain.”