Chandigarh, October 22
Shocking but true: an indoor patient admitted in a government hospital in Haryana spends a whopping Rs 11,665 out of his own pocket.

In a survey of 17 states conducted by the National sample Survey Organisation in 2004, when the national average on spending was pegged at Rs 3,238 and Tamil Nadu was right on top with a paltry spending of Rs 637, Haryana was down below with no one for company.

Even neighbouring Punjab was a shade better with a spending of Rs 9,774, Uttar Pradesh had an indoor patient spending Rs 7,648 while all other states recorded a spending of Rs 2,000 to Rs 4,000 by a patient.

With this statistics "unearthed" recently by the authorities and, following a brainstorming session with the civil surgeons over the last two days, the health department has decided that this brazen exploitation of patients at the hands of the government hospitals must end.

Sources said that the civil surgeons, too, were appalled by this survey report and agreed that drastic changes were needed. They zeroed in on the malpractices in the system for the expensive hospital stay.

The department has already moved against government doctors who are charging a "personal fee" to attend on patients and for asking patients to buy medicines more than the requirement. Prescribing medicines other than those available in the hospital, which adds to expenses, is another reason for the high expenses.

In addition, the authorities have decided to bear down on the "out-of-hospital" tests prescribed by government doctors to break their alleged nexus with private labs.

By the first week of November, all government hospitals will display lists of private labs willing to conduct tests not available in hospitals at nominal rates. The civil surgeons of all districts have been directed to work this out at the local level. They have also been told to prepare standard packages and tentative cost of items involved in the treatment and hand these over to patients at the time of admission.

"This is to give the patient a fair idea of how much cost a particular treatment will entail as also to ensure that he is not being fleeced," says health secretary Anuradha Gupta.

This assessment will not only rate the treatment offered but also the satisfaction level of the patient, the attitude of the paramedic staff, sanitation and the overall stay.

The concept of having OPD registers is being revived and doctors will be required to enter the medicines and tests prescribed.