BETHEL HOSPITAL, Addis Abeba This is one of the better hospitals in Addis. The waiting rooms in Ethiopian hospitals and clinics are often crowded, disorganized and confused. They operate with a feudal mentality and centered around the comfort and financial interest of the physicians who also own the labs and radiology services. The doctors strut into their offices like prima ballerinas and dispatch patients in rapid successions. One wonders what they can diagnose in these 10-15 minute sessions. But patients often come out with a sheaf of slips to the lab and the pharmacy often with no or little explanations. Most Ethiopians consider doctors money grabbing charlatans. I am not surprised. Many years ago when I practiced as a physician we had a very high ethical standards, but we were also poorly payed. Ethiopian physicians of today should balance their financial interests with the compassion and care that is expected of them. They should realize that a considerable amount of their future could be spent in court and potentially in prison if this rate of ill will continues from the public in a rapidly changing environment.
Posted on: Mon, 01 Sep 2014 06:54:41 +0000