Title: Regulating the private health care sector: the case of the Indian Consumer Protection Act.

POPLINE Document Number: 141086

Author(s):

Bhat R

Source citation:

HEALTH POLICY AND PLANNING, 1996 Sep;11(3):265-79.

Abstract:

The private sector provides an important proportion of overall health care delivery services in India. As such, efforts must be made to ensure that such services are of acceptable to high quality. With professional organizations such as the Medical Council of India and local medical associations unable to influence the behavior of private providers, the recent decision to bring private medical practice under the Consumer Protection Act (COPRA) 1986 is considered an important step toward regulating the private medical sector. The author surveyed the views of 130 private health care providers from the city of Ahmedabad on the legislation. Data were also analyzed on cases filed with the Consumer Disputes and Redressal Commission in Gujarat since 1991. While respondents believe that COPRA will reduce the levels of malpractice and negligent behavior among private practitioners, they envision an increase in physicians' fees, a greater number of prescriptions made and diagnostic tests conducted, and an adverse effect upon emergency medical care. Medical associations have argued that introducing COPRA will foster expensive and needless litigation. Other concerns have been raised by consumer forums.

Keywords:

India
Research Report
Physicians
Private Sector
Delivery of Health Care
Attitude
Beliefs
Legislation
Asia, Southern
Asia
Developing Countries
Health Personnel
Health
Macroeconomic Factors
Economic Factors
Psychological Factors
Behavior
Culture