MDAs-A Study in Contrast

The irresponsibility of doctors and their increasing lack of accountability is not just because of better Press attention to these matters in recent times. It is also a consequence of the' proliferation of private health care institutions. These have always been seen to provide better care and now with the offer of new schemes such as the health insurance scheme, etc, their services have come within the reach of a larger section of the employed population. This means that it is the large mass of the poorer classes, hardly aware of health rights, who are held to ransom in the public institutions. Other than the sporadic and spontaneous outbursts against doctors, these users of public health care have few channels through which they can demand accountability from the doctors.