In Kolkata, a private survey revealed a shocking truth: nearly 1,000 doctors are among the city’s highest black-money earners. Not through transparent care, but by profiting off patients’ pain. Together, their undeclared income is estimated to cross Rs 1 lakh crore (10 trillion rupees).
Dr. Pradeep Agarwal, himself a doctor, confessed:
“The paths to black money in medicine must be shut down. As a doctor, I apologize to all the honest members of my profession.”
Exploitation in Real Numbers
Heart Attack — The Rs 9,000 Injection
- Actual cost: Rs 700–900
- Billed in hospital: Rs 9,000
Families don’t argue when a life hangs in the balance. They pay.
Typhoid — The Antibiotic Trap
- Wholesale cost per dose: Rs 25
- Hospital pharmacy price: Rs 53
- Total markup: over 100%
Kidney Failure — Dialysis Injection
- Real price: Rs 500
- Hospital price: Rs 1,800
- Why can’t patients buy outside? Because pharma supplies only to doctors and hospitals.
Infections — The Generic Denial
- Doctor’s prescription: Rs 540
- Same drug from another company: Rs. 150
- Generic version: Rs. 45
- But patients are forced into the Rs. 540 version — commissions matter, not patient wallets.
Diagnostics — The Commission Chain
- Ultrasound: Rs. 750 charged, Rs. 240 goes to the radiologist, the rest to the doctor.
- MRI: Doctors pocket Rs. 2,000–Rs. 3,000 per test.
Every step of treatment is laced with commissions.
Why the Loot Continues
Doctors, hospitals, and pharmaceutical companies operate like partners in crime. Pharma lobbies are powerful enough to pressure governments. Media looks away, feeding us endless celebrity gossip, cricket scandals, and reality-show drama — but never exposing the looting in healthcare.
Why? Because they profit too.
So while a street vendor demanding ₹10 extra gets punished, doctors and hospitals looting thousands face no consequences.
The Bitter Truth
Not every doctor is corrupt. Many are ethical, working day and night with honesty. But the few who exploit have built a system where profiteering is normalized.
This is not just about money. It’s about trust. When life-savers become life-suckers, society loses faith in one of its most sacred professions.
What Can We Do?
- Stay informed. Always ask about generics, compare costs, and demand transparency.
- Spread awareness. Talk about these issues openly. Social media is more powerful than traditional news.
- Support reform. Push for generic prescriptions, fair billing, and accountability in healthcare.
Final Word
A doctor’s oath is to save lives, not drain wallets. But silence fuels corruption. If we, as citizens, do not demand accountability, the nexus of doctors, hospitals, and pharma companies will only grow stronger.
Change begins with awareness. Awareness begins with us.
If this truth hits home, share this with everyone you know. Awareness is the first step to reform.
