Mysuru, Oct. 23 (MK&BS)- Patients belonging to economically poor and underprivileged families, who look at Government Hospitals with high hopes, are allegedly being taken for a ride by the staff and doctors, who are exploiting them to no end.
The Trauma Care Centre and Princess Krishnajammanni Super Speciality Hospital, administered by Mysore Medical College and Research Institute (MMC&RI) on KRS Road in the city, have, by the own accounts of patients and their relatives, reportedly turned into fleecing centres. The gullible patients have to pay from their pockets, due to the thriving unholy nexus between the doctors and private medical facilities.
Super Speciality Hospital offers various services like Neurology, Plastic Surgery, Urology, Medical, Medical Oncology, Cancer, ECG, Neuro Surgery, Nephrology, Surgical Gastroenterology, Surgical Oncology, Healing of Pain and Endocrinology, while the Trauma Care Centre has a Department of Orthopaedics.
Forced to pay from their pockets
Though both hospitals offer all types of blood tests, CT scans and other facilities, the inpatients are referred to private diagnostic centres for tests. Those having Below Poverty Line (BPL) cards are kept in the dark about free treatment available for them and are forced to shell out from their pockets to avail of the treatment.
Earlier, the doctor’s name was mentioned on the bill while referring the patient to a private diagnosis. Now, to conceal the identity of the doctors, the bill cites the name of either Trauma Care Centre or Super Speciality Hospital.
The doctors meticulously operate the racket by referring the patients for blood tests and scans, after waiting coolly till evening hours. By then, the same services available at the hospital will be closed.
A deliberate move
With no option left, the patients have to rely on private diagnostic centres, the situation deliberately being created by the hospital staff, said a relative of an inpatient, who produced the bill to corroborate the charges made against the doctors.
If anyone dares to enquire, the doctors assure to refund the money spent on the tests outside, which are provided without charging any fees at the hospital, only to renege on their promise, said a relative of a patient.
The lack of ‘D’ group staff at hospitals is yet another bane, as the patients have to rely on a vehicle to go to the nearby Trauma Care Centre to avail any facilities. Not all can afford the vehicle, but the condition of bedridden patients is unexplainable.
‘Strict instructions issued’
Earlier, some patients were being referred to private diagnostic centres for blood tests & CT scans. Following this, I issued strict instructions that all such tests must be conducted within our facility itself. In the event of any unforeseen technical issues, referrals were to be made only to nearby Sri Jayadeva Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences & Research. No problems were reported from then. However, I have now received complaints from some patients that referrals to external centres are once again being made. This issue will be addressed immediately.
— Dr. Neelan Gowda Patil, Medical Superintendent, Trauma Care Centre
This post was published on October 23, 2025 6:27 pm