“If a bed is available, we don’t look at the patient’s pocket”: MGUMST highlights affordable, ethical healthcare

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MGUMST showcases a patient-first healthcare model focused on affordability, equal treatment, ethical practices and advanced Centres of Excellence.

Chandigarh, August 30

Mahatma Gandhi University of Medical Sciences and Technology (MGUMST), Jaipur, reiterated its commitment to providing accessible and ethical healthcare during a special dialogue session organised in Chandigarh by MG MediWorld–International Healthcare Services on “Overview of Centres of Excellence at MGUMST.”

The session highlighted MGUMST’s vision of developing a world-class teaching hospital that combines advanced medical facilities with affordable treatment for people across economic backgrounds. The university is also developing multiple medical specialties as Centres of Excellence.

A key focus of the discussion was ensuring that quality healthcare remains accessible to ordinary patients. The institution emphasised equal treatment, ethical medical practices, specialized expertise and affordability, rather than focusing solely on technology and infrastructure.

Sukanta Kumar Das, Chief Operating Officer, MGUMST, outlined the institution’s healthcare philosophy and services. According to figures shared during the session, nearly 80% of patients receive free treatment under Central or State Government health schemes, while around 20% are treated through corporate arrangements or health insurance.

The institution also highlighted that it does not maintain separate beds or categories for economically weaker patients. If a bed is available, patients are treated without discrimination based on their financial circumstances.

MGUMST cited a liver transplant case involving an economically weaker schoolteacher to demonstrate its efforts to reduce the financial burden of complex procedures. According to the institution, the treatment cost was significantly reduced, with the patient being charged an amount largely equivalent to the cost of medicines.

The hospital further stated that it strives to keep the cost of complex treatments affordable, with charges for several procedures targeted at levels comparable to public institutions such as PGIMER, Chandigarh.

The institution also highlighted its approach towards diagnostic investigations. Doctors at MGUMST receive fixed salaries, which, according to the hospital, removes commercial incentives for prescribing unnecessary tests.

The focus, it said, remains on recommending investigations that are medically required for diagnosis and treatment, following a “tests only as necessary” approach.

An incident from the COVID-19 pandemic was also shared during the session. According to the institution, police brought an unidentified patient to the hospital around midnight, following which the administration authorised immediate admission and treatment.

The hospital said the decision reflected its priority of ensuring that emergency care is not delayed because of a patient’s identity, financial status or pending formalities.

The discussion also focused on MGUMST’s Centres of Excellence, which aim to bring together multidisciplinary specialists, advanced technology and patient-centric treatment.

The institution seeks to integrate different medical specialities under one system, reducing the need for patients with complex illnesses to move between multiple healthcare facilities for specialist consultations. According to MGUMST, coordination between expert medical teams and advanced technology can help make treatment more comprehensive and effective.