Just watching this KTN feature on irresponsible prescriptions by doctors and the feature has just confirmed to me that I am not the only one thinking of doctors as having become mediocre, pharmaco-merchants or just plain unethical.

The sad part is that in Nairobi for instance, the hospitals that most working class people (the likes recommended by corporate insurance companies) visit are usual culprits. Worse is when you see those newly employed GPs. There is one I asked why he was giving me some painkiller alongside the other drugs-pain was not one of my symptoms. The answer this doctor gave me was simply stupid "That we were trained to include that in the management of such cases".

The worst comes when you have a fat medical cover. They may even throw in some "minor" surgery to "solve the problem once and for all".

I recently took my newly born child to a "respected" paedriatic hospital and they couldn't pin the problem yet they were always adding drugs and saying "change this change that, stop this bla bla bla" during every visit.After much introspect, I said to hell with insurance cover and went to a City Council clinic located in the "dirty" side of the CBD and at a cost which was next to zero. I bought the council doc's simple prescription and have never had to go back to that dreadlocked paeditrician again.

I think it is time people woke up and brought doctors to task on every action they take. When my wife was pregnant, I went with her into the doctor's room during all her clinic visits and I always insisted on us being told the reason behind every procedure and medicine prescribed.

Shouldn't this habit (KTN calls it poly pharmacy) be classified as a medical malpractice?

Thats why i go to mission hospitals. These hospitals may be far but i find their services and attitude excellent plus very low costs. They also have experts. ie kijabe, tenwek. The private hosis have become too commercial and unethical.

Polypharmacy is actually quite common esp in the major and nice hospitals. They'l also do 101 investigations. Recently someone i know had lab tests worth 50k done on her using her insurance card in a major hosp in Parklands. All she had was blood drawn. She knew this when th insurance froze her card coz her cover limit reached. Even if u're insured, always insist on knowing why anything is being done or being prescribed. At the end of th day you'l be left bila cover if you dont check. And premiums'l keep rising.

@jguru,
They checked several hormones, heart enzymes, liver tests, routine tests like haemogram, blood sugar etc but what costed most were some rheumatic testsalong with the hormonal exams. When she went back to check they told her it has to do with checking if she has a connective tissue disease (which they did nto explain).
Her complaint to hospital however was just fatigue and headache. She actually thought she had malaria. I looked at the list of tests... honestly, i dont see why they did them.

This is very true. One time i took my son to hosi(one of the "top" hospitals around) coz he kept having this persistent flu.... During one of the visits I met this young looking Dr. He said that we needed to do an x-ray of the sinuses. the kid was then 2-3yrs. When i took it later for review, i found an older asian'ish doctor. She was so pissed off and she said, "who subjected this kid to a sinus x-ray? That is very irresponsible! Children dont develop sinuses until they are over 7 years of age..." It wasnt very pleasant.....

@ Theu, true of the mission hospitals. My first child was born at a private hospital, cost?? slightly over 50,000 bob. My second child at a mission hospital. Cost? about 6,000 /= but this was cleared with an NHIF card. No stories, no complications.

Some medics in private hospitals have become hawkers of medical services to the highest bidders. They are no better than conmen who do quick mathematics on how much you are worth in order to milk you to the very last penny possible.

Worst if you have a cover for your bill. You immediately become a guinea pig for new exorbitantly sold drugs at their disposal!!!

What i mean is that all those tests done showed normal results which may indicate they were not necessary.
About nhif, i think the jump was too high. Imagine moving from paying 320 to 2,000. Thats too high. Should have been gradual. The opposition at the time stemed from the fact that many govt hosp's were not equipped. I hope its diff.
Yes, most private hosp clients are insured. Its so expe!

Just seen this post and got emboldened to voice something I have always believed.

There is a world of difference between asian doctors and our fellow brothers. I have had not-so-pleasant encounters with our so called specilaists. They rub their "flyness" on your face.

If you visit the paediatric wing at aga khan you will notice the difference. The Asians are more there.

Once an elderly asian lady pediatrician knelt on the floor to engage my kid who was refusing to open her mouth. It left a lasting impression on my mind.

Very sad! difference tween our beloved country and India!
Another Doc suggested we rush my daughter to theater for tongue repair after self bite, just when I was arranging for funds,my friend suggests I see one Prof [simiyu/wekesa can't rem] Hey! You know what? He told me that theater biz is utter nonsense and prescribed ice cream! wonders! 350/-

Thieves!