Patients being fleeced at cardiac clinics

It is a great relief that treatment of heart diseases is now done pretty well here in Dhaka. As we know, a patient with heart pain or heart related complaints is always advised to consult a cardiologist. If after investigations and angiogram, a patient is found to have blocks, one, two or more, the cardiologist is supposed to advise the patient what treatment s/he can undergo within his ability. But our cardiologists outright suggest implantation of 'ring', indicating nothing of the other method which is also widely available and he can follow. The cost of each ring is 1.20 or 1.40 lac and it is alleged that a hefty sum of commission is paid to the cardiologist by the ring-marketing coterie. Usually most of the patients need two rings and with other charges (hospital stay, medicines and cardiologists' fees, etc.) the cost of implantation of two rings come to between Tk. 3.50 and 4.00 lacs.
Though for the well-do-do patients, advice for having rings make no difference, but I am certain it is serious issue for the poor patients. I took a patient with two blocks to a specialized cardiac clinic and consulted one cardiologist there who advised us as above. But as I heard that the by-pass or open heart surgery costs less, I asked the doctor if the patient could undergo this procedure. He answered if by-pass was necessary, he himself would have suggested us that. The patient being financially insolvent, got disappointed and we had him treated by open heart surgery at another hospital at a total cost of Tk. 2 lacs.
It is no more a secret that the agents of Ring Manufacturing Companies pay commission to the cardiologists and so they insists more on rings than on by-pass/open heart surgery. A Bangla daily published a detailed report on the ring rackets and their brisk business in a hospital in the capital and now the same rackets work in many other private hospitals offering treatment for heart blocks. Patients, especially of low income groups are becoming their prey due to their (patients') ignorance about the alternative procedure that requires much less money.