Imphal, January 04: Unholy nexus between doctors and a large number of private laboratories and clinics have been fleecing the unsuspecting patients for quite a while and it has now become the accepted practice for a number of Govt doctors to refer their patients to get their X-Rays from a private laboratory, of course with a percentage cut for the doctor in question from the private labs.

A well placed source informed The Sangai Express that Govt doctors usually refer their patients to some private clinics and private laboratories for any tests needed including X-Rays and the doctor receives a certain percentage from the clinic for referring the patients to them.

The percentage to be paid to the doctor is worked out before hand, said the source.

Some doctors are known to receive 5 percent of the fees received by the private clinics and labs for any test conducted, added the source.

A number of doctors also have their own set of clientele amongst the private clinics and laboratories, informed the source.

Pharmacies are also usually opened and run by kins and near ones of the doctors, to whom patients are usually referred too.

According to Govt regulations, the doctor is free to refer his patient to a private clinic for the necessary test, if the same facility is not available at the Govt hospital.

But if the facility is available at the Govt hospital such practice is strictly prohibited, added the source.

For X-rays, urine test, blood test etc the patients are usually referred to a private clinic on such ground that the results can be obtained faster and of course on the reasoning that the results will be clearer and more accurate in case of private labs.

As it is very difficult to verify such a nexus exists between some doctors and private clinics and laboratories, it is well nigh impossible to take up punitive action against any doctor, added the source.

This practice is however an open secret amongst the medical practitioners, added the source.

It is also common for some patient parties to offer to go for the test at some private clinics or laboratories, added the source.

A number of patients needing operation are also usually referred to a private hospital, where the operation is conducted by the doctor himself.

This is despite the Govt decision to ban doctors from private practice, added the source.

Adding to the ugly scenario is the practice of doctors taking money privately from patients needing any surgical operations in a Government run hospital.

In some cases, the patient families voluntarily offer money to the doctor privately.

Though no one has been nailed, this has become something of an accepted norm, added the source.

A senior doctor, speaking on condition of anonymity, said that such practices are well known amongst the medical circle.

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