This is a rather lengthy post. I don’t generally post political opinions and this must not be construed as such. So please read this actual and impartial analysis from the point of view of the person lowest in the rung to implement this Ayushman Bharat scheme.

The entire world and every media worth its salt has been praising this scheme as if it was something that has come out of the churning of the divine seas. As per this scheme designed to benefit the poor, so many million families have been made beneficiaries of this scheme . Sounds very good on paper. This has been hailed as something from heaven itself to the poorest of the poor. Very good, if that is true indeed and we as doctors are happiest in doing this. Until you actually know what it means and learn to read between the lines.

For those who immediately try to comparte this with healthcare in Cuba or Sweden, take a chill pill. In those countries, the entire cost is borne by the government, irrespective of whether the treatment is in the private or public sector. Not so, here. Your government merely pays a small policy amount as premium to the Insurance providers, and this messy burden is transferred to them. The estimated burden to the treasury is supposed to be just 3000 crore rupees. Please do simple mathematics to calculate *5 Lakhs* ₹ coverage into any gazillion number of families if the government is to bear the real cost, which it cant. They can, but they will tax honest tax payers like you and me. And those who have dealt with insurance companies….well. The end result of all this massive burden is that insurance premiums on good policies will be much costlier to offset their bleeding due to this – and again, the paying customer gets a royal kick in the backside.

The second part of this eyewash – the package rates, which are supposed to be lesser than CGHS /ECHS rates. To give a comparable quote, a physician consult in ECHS gets a royal Rs. 50/- and say an entire lap appendicectomy is to be performed within Rs.10,000 ( Please don’t pull up your eyebrows, that is not the surgeons fee. That is the entire package, instrument charges, doctors fees, OT charges, the works ). So the ultimate sufferer will be the poor doctor who will have to perform this nonsense at unmentionable costs and dealing with patients who think they are entitled to this. ( ECHS are the worst )

In context, a haircut in a small salon in a small city costs ₹100.

A plumber doesn’t come for less than 200 rupees a visit. So how are doctors supposed to earn? Does money grow on trees just because of our coat or steth? I leave the public to ponder.

Now the next part of this Tughlaquesque blunder – the scheme is meant only for the poorest of the poor. Joke of the century. For less than 1000 rupees you can get a BPL certificate from your friendly neighbourhood VAO driving in a sparkling Innova ( do not laugh…we see patients like these showing the CM scheme card ). Because Indians unlike the Japanese and other proud races have no shame on accepting freebies ( In tamil, Osiyila namma aatkal phenyl kudippaanga ) and cheating and claiming facilities meant for the truly downtrodden.

There are far better state schemes and in Tamilnadu, patient services are free in government hospitals. Why is it so difficult to replicate this all over India? Simply because the government has to actually spend on something useful, you see and we dont want that do we?

It is a shame that a government that cannot even get autowallahs who fleece the public to operate the meters is so blatant in subsidising one of the most vital to the nation in terms of quality. And subsidising the value of the hardworking man who delivers it – your honest doctor. What do you think will happen when you do these continually? Services become unsustainable, fraud ensues, adulteration etc and you have a huger mess because that is nature. Now while autowallahs even have a union, ours is the most fractured profession with so many vested interests. Do watch, some mega corporate honcho will appear in the news to wax eloquent about this scheme and behave as if they are the saviour of the poor, while all they will do is squeeze the doctor under them for every ounce of blood.

Mind you, I am not a Modi troll or basher, but one of his former fans. I believed that he was our country’s salvation. With these kind of poorly researched schemes, he might well turn out to be the executioner of honest hardworking doctors in India.

Dear PM, you mean well but it is high time you think much more forward and use some of your election smartness to actually benefit all parties concerned. We doctors do a lot more free service than you think, private or otherwise, and despite the fact that it is inconvenient to admit and get you votes, pulling down doctors is only going to worsen a rot, the likes of which you cannot even imagine.

I think India deserves only a coalition and no single party should ever win. I don’t think any of them has the maturity to handle power. Lets remember that for ever. Each is one head of the hydra but with a different face.

To the public, with cinema idiots vilifying doctors and assuming that cheap doctors make the best, remember, GIVING PEANUTS WILL ONLY GET YOU MONKEYS! And just because of a medical degree no commodity is lesser for us or need to be dirt cheap like you think you are entitled to. We have it far worse than you think, despite what the movies and politicians show. Spend any one day with your doctor, and you will wonder how we actually remain sane.

From an anguished doctor.

Do share so people actually learn who is at the suffering end of such ill planned schemes that look grandiose on paper, but will ultimately damage the healthcare system beyond repair.