The panelists were speaking on the topic- 'Should modern day medical practice override socio-economic issues in developing world', on the closing day of Medicon International 2016 on Sunday.
Consultant and Head of Neurosurgery of Kolkata's Vivekananda Institute of Medical Sciences, Prof. Sandip Chatterjee, moderated the panel discussion, where well known researcher, publisher of articles, author, public speaker and former CEO of Prasar Bharati Jawhar Sircar, Consultant Nephrologist of UK's Hull & East Yorkshire NHS Hospitals Prof. Sunil Bhandari and three Kolkata-based doctor-professors, Sukumar Mukherjee, Krishnendu Mukherjee and Krishnangshu Roy, were present as panelists.
Moderator Prof. Sandip Chatterjee explained that the discussion would be a debate between the ethical and practical sides of free treatment.
"The debate is based on if 'free treatment for all- ethically correct or practically possible'," Dr. Chatterjee said.
Panelist Dr. Krishnendu Mukherjee said, "Healthcare costs money and the modern technology-based treatment is really very expensive. Without a business model, healthcare sector won't survive."
"The Indian constitution provides its citizens Right to Live. But there is no right to get free and affordable treatment," he added.
Prof. Krishnagshu Roy said that providing completely free treatment in a nation like India was quite impossible and there were several funds, including Chief Minister's fund and Prime Minister's fund, to resolve the problem partially.
Retired Prasar Bharati CEO and historian Jawhar Sircar suggested that the doctor should prescribe all medicines' name of a same batch, so that a patient had option to buy a medicine at the lowest price.
"If a doctor prescribes all possible medicines' for a particular disease, a patient would have option to buy medicines with minimal costs from the pharmacy," he said.
"I've seen Chief Minister and Prime Minister's relief funds. I don't know who got it. These are for Chief Minister's relief and Prime Minister's relief," mocking the government policies, Sircar said.
Giving an example of treatment policy in Cuba, Prof. Krishnangshu Roy said, "Healthcare sector in Cuba has progressed a lot and Government of Cuba has a treatment policy. They don't charge from Cubans, but charge from patients, who come from other countries for treatment. That money, earned from non-Cubans, are generally used for Cubans' welfare."
"Besides promoting the health tourism, Indian Government should adopt a policy like Cuba for poor Indian's welfare. Because everyone deserves free or affordable treatment," Prof. Roy further said.
Prof. Sandip Chatterjee said that Indians showed lower interest in signing health insurance than buying smartphones.
"In India, 68% people have mobile phones, when only 19% have life or health insurance policies. It's a matter of prioritization," he said.
Prof. Chatterjee also suggested to combine health and life insurances that a patient can use anyone of these in his/her need.
All panelists agreed that there should be a good relationship between doctors and patients so that they can discuss on a disease and its treatment.
Meanwhile, physicians alleged that several hospitals and doctors of Kolkata, West Bengal and several other parts of the coutry were promoting healthcare and treatments with their names and designations, which had violated the Medical Council of India's guidelines.
"Guidelines becomes sidelines nowadays. People usually avoid to read those," historian Jawhar Sircar said.
With an aim to exchanging ideas and share experiences with trainee doctors, Peerless Hospital and B. K. Roy Research Centre, Association of Physicians of India (West Bengal Chapter) and UK's Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh jointly hosted a two-day international conference on Advanced Clinical Medicine- Medicon International 2016- in Kolkata's Hyatt Regency hotel on Saturday (December 17) and Sunday (December 18).
