As a rural doctor with 24 years of experience, I share this troubling experience at Sahyadri Hospital, Deccan, Pune, not to defame but to highlight patient exploitation and urge transparency in healthcare.
On June 24, 2025, my mother-in-law collapsed due to dizziness , elevated BP and low oxygen saturation ( 70-72% ) . With a history of angioplasty ( 2019) and COVID-19 ( 2020) , she was admitted to a local hospital. Abnormal ABG reports, pleural effusion, and possible respiratory failure necessitated transfer to a better facility. On Dr. Abhijit Palshikar’s advice, we admitted her to Sahyadri on June 29, 2025, paying ₹; 1 lakh deposit despite financial constraints.
Disappointing Care:
In the ICU, under an MD Medicine consultant, no physical examination occurred for 36 hours; treatment was phone-based. The consultant visited on day three, after improvement in oxygen levels. The patient remained in ICU due to “no available rooms, ” with assurances of no extra charges. On Thursday, she was shifted to a semi-private room.
Unethical Practices:
Forced Rental: Despite hospital oxygen facilities, we were coerced into renting a private oxygen concentrator ( ₹; 10, 000 deposit, ₹; 13, 000/month rent) .
Staff Negligence:
A tea-spilled lunch tray went uncleaned for over an hour despite complaints.
Ignored Symptoms: Severe abdominal pain for three days was neglected. The consultant didn’t examine her, ordering tests and consultations ( gynaecologist) remotely. A CT scan was advised without clinical assessment; no gastroenterologist was consulted.
Financial Strain: After six days, with no diagnosis, the bill reached ₹; 3, 30, 418, including ₹; 40, 735 for 18 “doctor visits” ( only 4 consultant and 2 assistant visits occurred) and ₹; 14, 600 in vague “other charges.” Exhausted, the family discharged her on July 6.
In contrast, upon transferring the patient to Sarthak Multispecialty Hospital in Manchar, we experienced prompt, compassionate, and effective care. A precise diagnosis was made, followed by appropriate treatment, leading to significant improvement within five days at a fraction of the cost. This experience highlighted the potential for ethical and high-quality care, even in resource-constrained settings, and restored our faith in healthcare.
Call to Action: This reflects a profit-driven system exploiting vulnerable patients. Demand transparency, question charges, and seek second opinions. Patients deserve ethical, compassionate care. Let this be a wake-up call for accountability in healthcare.