Touts having their way in government hospitals is commonplace. But, the same seems to be replicating at leading private hospitals in the city, of late.
“Convenors” or “acquaintances” as they call themselves, the middlemen play a role in moderating between patients and doctors. While a few middlemen help patients connect with doctors, considering the patient’s financial situation, a few others arrange for stay and also medication.
With Bengaluru emerging as a hub for medical tourism, doctors say touts are encashing the opportunity. A doctor from a cardiac care centre told DH, “It is mostly patients who do not know the local language who seek help from them. The middlemen instruct the patients on the specialist they can consult. They seem to have understood the system so well that they can even direct a patient to a particular doctor based on his or her condition.”
For instance, on October 27, Arindam Dutta (50) visited a private medical college hospital with super-speciality facilities for the treatment of his spine problem. He was accompanied by a tout. Dutta was instructed by a middleman on what best he could do. Not only did the middleman intervene as the discussion was on with the doctor regarding the cost of surgery, but also assured the patient medication at the lowest price, elsewhere.
Doctors say that while a few patients approach the touts on their own, others get referred to them by people from their own community or state.
“They seem to rely on the touts as they claim to be from the same place as theirs. A few come to Bengaluru as patients, settle here and turn middlemen themselves. They charge the patient anywhere between Rs 500 and a few thousand rupees. A few hospitals have their own teams that play the role of middlemen to bring more patients,” said a doctor.
Dr Devananda N S, cardiologist, Manipal Hospital, said that the middlemen seem to be doing patients some good.
“They know the best places where patients’ caretakers can stay. It is more of a symbiotic relationship. In case the patient dies during treatment, mediators also help in the procedures that need to be followed to transport the body home,” he said.
Touts not just target patients from other states, but also those from other countries. Having an online presence, they connect with patients abroad who wish to come to India for treatment. Dr Bhujang Shetty, chairman, Narayana Nethralaya, said there is minimal presence of middlemen to facilitate ophthalmic treatment. Some touts bring patients, mostly foreign nationals.
Growing tribe
Help patients from other states, abroad connect to specialists for cost-effective treatment
Facilitate stay and medication of patient
Arrange for accommodation of patient’s caretakers
Some hospitals have their own team of middlemen to bring patients
Touts help family with procedures, transporting body if patient dies