A platform for citizens to share healthcare experiences
An online platform, Medileaks.in has been launched to provide patients and others a mechanism to share their healthcare experiences. Patients, consumers and healthcare professionals can share their experiences, incidents and observations pertaining to specific malpractices, irrational and/or unethical practices in healthcare and its allied fields. Medileaks.in seeks to be the media via which institutional malpractices can be highlighted for the larger social good. These experiences are submitted online and then processed by volunteers who assess and de-identify the information to remove names of people and institutions. Regularly this information is put online on medileaks.in for public access and enhanced consumer awareness. Medileaks.in was launched in New Delhi, a panel comprising Keshav Desiraju, Secretary, Dept of Consumer Affairs, Government of India; Dr Samiran Nundy, Chairman, Department of Surgical Gastroenterology & Organ Transplantation, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital; and Dr Amit Sengupta, Associate Global Coordinator, People’s Health Movement debated on prevailing consumer issues in Indian healthcare sector.
The website is a non-profit endeavour which has been conceptualised and supported by two healthcare professionals, Sunil Nandraj and Alam Singh, both have many years of experience of working in the Indian health system. Nandraj stated, “Medileaks goal is to identify trends and patterns in healthcare malpractices to benefit consumer and for informed policy making.” He added that patient submissions and contributions are very important and useful for other concerned citizens, patients, caregivers, journalists, researchers and policy makers as it can help them to better understand the healthcare system, and ultimately, act towards its potential improvement. “Although we except most visitors to submit individual anecdotes, we also provide a confidential and anonymous platform for industry insiders to inform about long term and systematic abuses and practises,” added Alam Singh.
EH News Bureau
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