Hospital withdraws doctor reward scheme

MUMBAI: Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital has withdrawn its proposed scheme of “rewarding doctors for referring them patients” following the Maharashtra Medical Council’s show-cause notice.
Stating that it was a “case of over-enthusiasm by the marketing department”, the hospital has sent its reply (a copy of which is available with TOI) that said the scheme—dubbed the Elite Forum for Doctors—has not been implemented and the proposal immediately withdrawn.The MMC had earlier issued a show-cause for planning a “scheme of awards for referring doctors”.
MMC president Kishor Taori said he would forward the case to the BMC. “The BMC has issued licence to the hospital and can take action against it,” he said, adding that medical education minister Jitendra Awhad had promised “full support to the MMC” in this regard.
On May 12, the MMC had asked the hospital to explain why action shouldn’t be initiated against it for floating the Elite Forum. “Your act of soliciting of patients under Elite Forum is a breach of code of conduct and ethics. This is a serious matter,” the notice said. In a reply dated June 3, the hospital’s executive director Dr Ram Narian said the “concept of an Elite Forum for Doctors arose from our desire to offer a platform to these experienced professionals to enhance both the clinician and patient experience in our institute”.