KOZHIKODE: The mushrooming of hospitals in Kozhikode has resulted in unhealthy competition leading to many of them downsizing manpower and also resorting to ways to increase the revenue. Some of the managers even tip ambulance drivers and service networks to ensure the 'supply' of accident victims to hospitals, sources said.
Half-a-dozen new hi-tech hospitals have been poaching for medical experts promising them higher salary and perks.
The hospitals are faced with dipping profit and rising costs. After the pay revision, experienced nurses receive a monthly salary of Rs 30,000 each while specialized doctors get Rs 2 lakh and above. During the recent cross migration of doctors, many received up to 100 percent increase in salary, it is pointed out.
The MVR Cancer Centre, Star Care Health Hospital, Meitra Hospital and Metromed International Cardiac Centre are some of the top hospitals. It may be recalled that the opening of MVR centre saw the exit of Dr Narayanankutty Warrier, eminent oncologist, from MIMS. A selected group of experts also followed him. Former managing director of MIMS, Dr Abdulla Cherayakkatt, and another team also moved out to the Star Care Hospital.
Dr P.P. Venugopal, noted emergency medicine expert, told DC that such trends are symptoms of an unhealthy health sector where doctors jump from one place to another for money. The managements set monthly targets to the doctors to extract the maximum from patients.
The recent salary increase of nursing staff and other allied healthcare employees has also led to increase in the operational cost of every hospital, he said. The new hospitals have launched all kinds of strategies to attract the maximum number of wealthy patients.
