Start your own hospital and openly proclaim that everything will be free. All consultations. All surgeries. All tests. All medicines. Absolutely free of cost to the patient.
Because you want free healthcare, na? So, do it yourself. Open up your own hospital. Purchase adequate land and construct it legally. Buy all the machines. Hire highly competent doctors on stupendous salary packages. Assure them they won’t have any work pressure, and that working for you will be like a dream come true.
Think you can’t start your own hospital because you’re not a doctor? Well, let me tell you, that:
- The duo who started Fortis are not doctors.
- The guy who started Max is not a doctor.
These two are among the top Indian hospital chains. You go beyond them and make such an awesome brand that people will forget all others. So excellent that yours will be the de facto standard.
The power of thinking big
Plan something world-class. Whatever is your perception of an ideal hospital, visualise that and make it happen. Build something so great that all those patients who negatively stereotype doctors, will come only to your hospital. Yours will be the preferred choice of everyone who thinks that doctors shouldn’t charge any fees from their patients.
May you rock the world
I would really want your hospital to succeed. May you have so many patients that your doctors will find it hard to handle. Then, how will you manage the workload? It’s simple. By recruiting more doctors. In fact, you can hire MBBS graduates, who vastly outnumber the amount of super specialists. Just visit medical colleges and do campus hiring. Give medical students a job offer while they’re still studying. That way they would settle down in 20’s, like some of their engineering counterparts. Further, it’ll reduce pressure on students to clear NEET and other PG exams. In any case, most aren’t able to clear them due to which they move to other fields like IT or Pharma. That way, if another pandemic-like situation comes, then there won’t be a shortage of qualified doctors in the market.
Let people realise your greatness
Along with hiring undergraduate doctors, also spend money on a viral marketing campaign. Convince people that for most basic cases, it’s absolutely fine to get themselves treated from an MBBS doctor, instead of going for super specialists. Tell them that if they don’t have any problem using software made by a college dropout, why can’t they get themselves treated by a legit medical professional, who’s cured actual patients during their course of education? Make people realise that an MBBS doctor has a lot of clinical skill, not necessarily less than those who have cleared PG exams. Also, make them realise that some students don’t go for PG, because they can’t afford the options they’re getting.
Stepping stones for success
Your next step will be to hire other staff for your hospital. This will consist of the usual ones such as nurses, compounders, receptionists etc. but that will not be all. You’ll hire some more type of people which others don’t hire.
The first type will a person who’ll meet every patient after check up, asking them not to devalue the prescription, just because they’ve got it for free. Every doctor I’ve met, has faced this issue where people don’t value the consultation if it’s given to them free of cost. So what if those doctors failed? You hire special staff to make yourself succeed. Better still, you do that yourself. After all, you only wanted healthcare to be free, so you know better why people should value it.
In addition to that, two more types of staff members will be required. One shall be those who will explain to patients that a doctor tries their best and it’s not their fault if a patient doesn’t recover despite all efforts. The second type will be bouncers, to flex their muscles, in case a patient argues with the doctor using random diagnosis taken from the Internet.
Completely forego any chance of profits
And now, coming to the medicines part. If you are one of those who considers profit a bad word for Pharma companies, then do this. Put up a sign board outside your hospital saying that medical representatives won’t be allowed. Have your own pharmacy giving generic medicines. All your doctors will prescribe their medicines only. In case a patient develops reaction to generic medicines of a certain brand, then it’ll be your fault and not that of the doctor. Because you only had set that rule.
The best a patient can get
Due to free medicines, there can be chances of leakage. To prevent that, please make sure to invest in software. Have everything digitised, including prescriptions, pharmacy, inventory, CSSD, etc.
A complete software-enabled setup will also result in a good patient experience. A common complaint among low-cost hospitals is too much of crowding and waiting times. But that shouldn’t concern you, because you’ll be doing something far-far better. Implement software to enable your patients to book appointment from home and come only when their turn is near. No one will have to sit inside for hours, while waiting for their turn. The overall experience should be such that if any patient wants an appointment then they’ll get it instantly, without having to wait for days or weeks. There’ll also be free pickup & drop facility along with valet parking, to ensure overall customer delight. Patients will actually look forward to visiting your hospital, instead of dreading.
Everyone will be happy
In fact, make sure there is absolutely no complaint from the customer. So, all the floors should be clean, staff should be well behaved, cafeteria should serve delicious food, and infrastructure should be upgraded every few years.
Also, your employee retention levels should be high. Doesn’t matter what’s the market situation, you will have to give them regular increments. If you’ve ever wondered why 15% of all doctors in USA are Indians, then here’s your chance to reverse the trend. Give your doctors an absolutely relaxed work environment and a very high pay. Also, give them annual paid vacations with family and the latest electronic gadgets. Offer so many benefits that whichsoever doctor works with you, will be so satisfied that they won’t ever think of working anywhere else.
Bring a revolution
On the matter of complete satisfaction, you can do one more thing which will bring a revolution. In case a patient dies in the hospital, then their family members will be given money, as a compensation. That money will be deducted from your pocket, not that of the doctor. This will encourage doctors to work for you and also more patients will come visiting. Along with that, your home address and personal mobile number will be prominently displayed on the reception area. This is in case a patient dies accidentally and their family members want to know, whom to vent out their anger on.
Last but not the least
Above all, make sure that the money you’re using to give free treatment, doesn’t have any source of dubious earnings. It shouldn’t be an indirect mean to change someone’s religious or political beliefs. It should not be a way to convert any black money into white. It should not be a means to cover up for someone’s past misdeeds.
Earn your money the hard way, and use that to do something that will solve the healthcare problems forever.
1 comment:
The last lines sums up everything.Health care system is not just one component , it's a big diversity. Money plays a crucial role in it and proper utilisation is important. The writer has explained it all so beautifully..
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