I am a private practitioner working in India. Doctors like me provide 70-85% healthcare in India.
Most of us have a flat consulting fees. Frequently we give concessions or wave off fees for patients in need.
I have always wondered if there can be sliding scale of charges.
Most of us have a flat consulting fees. Frequently we give concessions or wave off fees for patients in need.
I have always wondered if there can be sliding scale of charges.
Most patients who need concession never ask for it.
High fees puts entry barrier for service access.
Wealthy/well to do actually pay less as fees are normally decided by middle class paying capacity.
High fees puts entry barrier for service access.
Wealthy/well to do actually pay less as fees are normally decided by middle class paying capacity.
I toyed (in my mind) with many systems but couldn't find a simple but effective one.
What do you think of following idea -
I see kids up to 18 years of age.
Should I develop a sliding scale of consulting fees according to their school fees?
What do you think of following idea -
I see kids up to 18 years of age.
Should I develop a sliding scale of consulting fees according to their school fees?
Most Indians blatantly lie about their income and it is a very unreliable question. But school fees seems to be a reasonably robust indicator (except RTI admissions and ultra rich managing admissions in minority schools)
Please let me know your thoughts.
Thanks.
Please let me know your thoughts.
Thanks.
I would love to hear from fellow doctors, educationists, businessmen, public servants and everyone who has thought about this problem.
