The (True) High Point Of Your (New Age) Stay

"Just as Goa attracts a lot of tourists from all over the world, it also attracts plenty of doctors, especially homeopathic, ayurvedic and dentists, who set up clinics and start treating patients without registering. The Navhind Times tried to study the functioning of such doctors.

The study revealed that most of the doctors set up practice without proper licenses and don't even mention their qualifications. It was also observed that practitioners of other systems prescribe allopathic medicines in an unlawful manner to patients, especially at hotels.

The Supreme Court has held that a person who does not have knowledge of a particular system of medicine but practices in that system is a "quack" and a mere pretender to medical knowledge or skill, or to put it differently, a "charlatan."

It was also observed that these practitioners charge the tourists exorbitantly. While Goan doctors normally charge around 1,000 to 2,000 [rupies] per visit, these doctors charge anything ranging from Rs 2500 to Rs 5000. Secondly, it has come to the notice that these doctors even charge a commission from hospitals and laboratories for referring patients to them.

Another common practice followed by these "doctors" is to prescribe very strong anti-biotic to the patient and also give a multi-vitamin along with it. As a result of the strong anti-biotic, the patient does get momentary relief but without being treated for the actual cause of the sickness.”

-- Joao Sousa, on how medical problems are dealt with in the NewAge paradise (and tourist trap) of Goa, India - which is remarkably similar to how they're dealt with at Harvard University - for The Navhind Times.