Ahmedabad ENT surgeon charges consultation fee based on patient's income

Ahmedabad: In a unique approach to making healthcare more affordable, an 81-year-old ENT surgeon in Ahmedabad charges patients for consultations based on their monthly income, with those having no income paying no fee at all.  

The doctor, identified as Dr Nandlal Manseta, has followed the income-linked fee system at his clinic for years, allowing patients to pay according to their earnings. There is no requirement to submit salary slips, income certificates or any other proof. Patients simply check the fee chart and deposit the applicable amount in a donation box kept at the clinic.

Under the system, a person earning Rs 1,000 a month pays Rs 10 for the consultation, while someone earning Rs 10,000 pays Rs 100. For a monthly income of Rs 1 lakh, the fee is Rs 1,000. Patients without any income can consult the doctor free of charge.

The model is intended to ensure that the cost of a consultation does not become a barrier for people who may already be struggling financially. Rather than screening patients based on documents, the system relies on them to honestly state their earnings.

The doctor has also spoken about the support he received from society and government during his own journey and his desire to extend similar support to others. The fee structure is part of that effort to make basic medical advice more accessible.

He follows this practice as part of his effort to give back to society. His approach is rooted in the belief that a person’s financial situation should not prevent them from seeking medical care, reports the Indian Express. 

The initiative recently drew wider attention after The Better India shared the doctor’s story on social media. The post featured his words: “If a patient’s income is zero, the fee is zero too.”

The idea received an enthusiastic response online, with several users appreciating the trust-based approach.

“What a relief to patients who can’t afford to pay, but have Doctors like him who believe in treating patients. God bless him,” one user commented.

Another wrote, “The ones with max income act the most privileged; they don’t pay and create more fuss also.”

Highlighting the absence of income verification, another user said, “Best thing is written below ‘no income proof needed’. Honesty is contagious.”

The consultation model has since attracted attention as an example of a fee system based on a patient’s ability to pay rather than a uniform consultation charge.