Bring Patients, Earn Commissions: Free Treatment for Corporate-Private Patients in Gujarat Also Benefits General Practitioners

In Gujarat, a well-organized scam is ongoing where poor patients are being sent to corporate private hospitals to earn money through government schemes. Many might not be aware that the general practitioners running small clinics in villages are actually the real agents of corporate hospitals. 

These general practitioners receive substantial commissions by referring patients from rural areas to private hospitals in the city. The network for sending poor patients to corporate hospitals is thriving in Gujarat. It is important to note that the role of intermediaries between private hospitals and general practitioners is crucial in this system.

Organized Network for Sending Patients from Villages to Corporate Hospitals

In the medical business, securing a strong position also requires significant funding. When hospitals make large investments in advanced medical equipment with the latest technology, hospital administrators often employ various strategies to ensure returns. 

Now, there seems to be a competition among corporate hospitals to attract patients. Many hospitals have opened OPD clinics in smaller towns.

In addition, intermediaries have been hired on a commission-based contract to bring in patients, who are colloquially referred to as ‘agents.’ These agents maintain contact with general practitioners who run small clinics in rural areas. 

When a patient complains of chest pain, the general practitioner immediately recommends treatment at a pre-determined private hospital. Since villagers tend to have more trust in their local doctors, private hospitals have turned these general practitioners into behind-the-scenes agents.

Facilities from Bus Services to Hostels for Sending Patients to Corporate Hospitals

There are special bus services available to send patients from villages to corporate hospitals in the city. Additionally, arrangements are made for the patients’ meals and stay in hostels. Since the treatment is free, poor and uneducated patients are not concerned about the cost of treatment, which results in doctors benefiting significantly. Once the patient is admitted, the general practitioner’s commission is determined based on the type of treatment provided.

For example, different types of treatments like angiography, angioplasty, or bypass surgery result in different commission payments. It is also reported that some intermediaries in the medical business are working in such a way that the hospital management only receives the treatment cost, while the intermediary takes all the assistance provided under government schemes like PMJAY, as well as other benefits from the patient. Despite the financial difficulties faced by private hospitals, the administrators do not hesitate to engage in such practices.

As a result, many agents are earning in lakhs, receiving official commissions from corporate hospitals. These commissions are not limited to cash but also include benefits such as fuel coupons, laptops, refrigerators, air conditioners, and even foreign tour packages. 

In short, medical intermediaries play a significant role in bringing patients to private hospitals, with their earnings reaching lakhs. Medical intermediaries are now active not only in Ahmedabad but also in major cities across Gujarat.