Private Clinics

I noted a few private clinics. At Benedictine I get some of the referrals from private clinics to do further work up on a misdiagnosis. For instance, one patient was sent to me for a possible scrotal mass, but on examination, it was an obvious hydrocele. Or patient with “moving pain from in the abdomen” was simply constipation. Or presumptive tapeworms showed nothing on ultrasound and nothing in the stool. Or presumptive peptic ulcer without an endoscopy exam or gastric analysis. All of these cases came in only one day from different private clinics.

It costs nearly 80 rand (~$12) to see a private physician versus 25 rand (~$4) if not free to see a Benedictine physician. Moreover, private physicians cannot offer free prescriptions and services like the government-run physicians. Plus, Benedectine has a variety of specialists. Thus, I can’t explain why people go to these sometimes questionable private physicians.