KATHMANDU: Doctors at the National Trauma Center in Kathmandu have been found to be working in connivance with medical suppliers in extorting high fees from orthopedics patients.
The center premise does not have pharmacies that sell orthopedic supplies. Private orthopedic suppliers have unchecked entry inside the center who brokers a deal with the needy patients into buying their supplies at a high rate. Doctors facilitate these suppliers by providing the details of the patients and who in turn are rewarded with sales commissions.
The center prepares the list of all patients receiving treatment at the center on a daily basis. Doctors pass the list to the representatives of orthopedic supplier companies, according to a staff at the center.
The government claims it provides treatment free of cost. However, the patients and their relatives are forced to negotiate with representatives of private medical suppliers as part of their treatment in buying orthopedic implants. Doctors as well as its staff at the center participate in the racket.
Gopal Ramtel from Dhading district, who got admitted at the center for leg injuries, complained that he had to negotiate with a representative of an orthopedic company for an iron rod to be implanted in his leg.
“The representative had demanded Rs. 30,000 for the rod. When I said that I did not have that much money he offered the rod at Rs. 25,000,” he said.
Neither the trauma victims nor their relatives have any idea of the exact price of the implants to be bought. They are forced to settle the deal decided by the representatives of orthodox suppliers.
On receiving the call, the representatives visit the center, meet the concerned patients and negotiate on the product, as informed by the doctor.
The center prepares the list of all patients receiving treatment at the center on a daily basis. Doctors pass the list to the representatives of orthopedic supplier companies, according to a staff at the center.
“At the order of senior doctors in every department, resident doctors at the center phone the representatives of orthopedics implant suppliers and avail them with the details of the patients,” said a doctor at the center.
On receiving the call, the representatives visit the center, meet the concerned patients and negotiate on the product, as informed by the doctor.
“As soon as a patient is admitted to the center, doctors present us with the list of materials required. We pay a certain amount to the doctors for the service,” said a representative Khabarhub met inside the center.
Dr. Binod Sherchan, acting director at the center admits that the representatives of orthopedic supplying companies have free access to the center. “Pharmacies in the center premise do not sell orthopedic implant materials. So, the representatives of private companies are allowed inside the center,” he clarified.
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