01496pab a2200157 454500008004000000100001400040245004700054260000900101300001500110362001200125520108700137650002201224650002801246650002001274773004401294180718b2014   xxu||||| |||| 00| 0 eng d  aKumar, R.  aEthical and affordable healthcare in India  c2014  ap.938-946.  aOct-Dec  aPublic hospitals have become victims of apathy, absenteeism and corruption thus denying competent, compassionate and accessible healthcare to the citizen. In private hospitals, services are unaffordable, where even the rich have to pay through their nose by unnecessary interventions risking their lives. Now many members of society, including some doctors believe that corruption has crept into the holy precincts of 'this noble profession' viz. avoidable insertion of coronary stents, unnecessary and over-priced cataract surgery, uterus removal and caesareans and joint replacements has become increasingly common. There is a need to cut costs of procedures, medicines, devices and reduce investigations, giving precedence to clinical acumen. The healthcare can improve if the approach of the health workers is ethical and government makes adequate arrangements for affordable care in public hospitals. Government aided private family clinics or NGO clinics in every corner of the towns/villages can be another step in this direction to provide primary health care. - Reproduced.  aHospitals - India  aHealth services - India  aHealth services  aIndian Journal of Public Administration