Undue payments There is a widespread belief that patients are required to pay money for treatment at a government hospital. This belief is a significant factor in Delay #1. Indeed, undue payment, or informal fees, was the most commonly reported violation. This issue was mentioned in 32 reports out of 68 (47%). The case studies shed light on a startling range of costs, from instances where nursing staff demand bribes, to patients who were forced to buy their own hypodermic needles. Many patients and their families enter into debt to pay for care at government hospitals, despite the fact that these charges violate NRHM guidelines on treatment of pregnant women, which specifically exempt women from any charges during pregnancy and childbirth. Such charges discourage poor patients from seeking care and reduce their chance of a healthy delivery.
“There is a widespread belief that patients are required to pay money for treatment at a government hospital. This belief is a significant factor in Delay #1.�
Findings
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