PeopleHealth, an integrated healthcare management solutions provider, has revealed that people in Bangalore did not have a family doctor and the concept of a dedicated physician. In a survey conducted among 1023 individuals, aged between 21 and 40 years of age at different locations, it was found that over 50 per cent of the respondents did not have family doctor. Less than 10 per cent of those who did not have a family doctor were looking for a family doctor.

Over 80 per cent of the respondents had a monthly income of less than Rs 40,000 and around 55 per cent were graduates and postgraduates who have been residing in Bangalore for over a decade.

Although the city has been recognised as a healthcare hub with the presence of leading hospitals like Manipal, Columbia Asia, Wockhardt, Apollo, Sagar, BGS Global besides the scores of smaller medical centres and nursing homes, 40 per cent of the respondents did not have the contact number of a doctor or a hospital. It was also found that 70 per cent of those surveyed did not know the difference between primary, secondary and tertiary healthcare.

When it came to choosing a doctor, 70 per cent made the decision based on references by friends or relatives, 13 per cent of the people 'just walked into a hospital' and a miniscule 6 per cent choose doctors based on their affiliation to well known hospitals.

The courtesy and attitude of hospital staff coupled with the amount of time spent by doctors and the doctor's willingness to offer explanations ranked the highest among factors for 30 per cent of the respondents agreeing) to merit it as a good hospital.

Access to the medical director, cleanliness, transparency about hospital information and treatment procedures were the other factors considered to grade the hospital. For 20 per cent of the respondents, number of patients waiting for treatment qualified as good facility. Only 5 per cent of the respondents looked at the 'brand value' of the hospital and proximity the facility to grade the medical centre for treatment.

The survey also revealed a dichotomy in the relationship between hospitals and doctors. While only a small 6 per cent choose doctors based on their affiliation to well known hospitals, more than 70 per cent of those surveyed chose hospitals based on the profile of doctors and their familiarity with doctors.

On a positive note, the survey found that 20 per cent of the respondents had undergone a routine health check in the past year, perhaps a reflection better health consciousness at least among a certain segment of the population. The survey also revealed that the voice of men hold sway in choosing the healthcare facility for the family, which is the case in 70 per cent of the respondents.

On the experience of public with doctors, clinics and hospitals, 10 per cent of the respondents felt that they were prescribed more medicines than required and close to 20 per cent felt that the charges were unreasonably high. Another 11 per cent felt that the healthcare facility was unhygienic. More than 50 per cent claimed that their monthly spend on healthcare was less than Rs 500 and for 20 per cent of the respondents, it was more than Rs 1000.

The survey has brought to the fore the callous attitude of the public towards healthcare, stated G. Krishnamurthy, CEO, PeopleHealth.