Say Jai Shree Ram, get discount: Doc offer to patients draws IMA ire
Times of India | 14 April 2026
Kolkata: Say Jai Shree Ram, get a discount: A senior interventional cardiologist has come up with this offer for his patients, eliciting criticism and stirring up a controversy ahead of the Assembly elections in the state.
While this unprecedented move by such a senior doctor has been condemned by the larger medical community, the Indian Medical Association (IMA) Bengal has asked cardiologist P K Hazra to explain himself, describing the "offer" as against medical ethics and professional conduct. Asking Hazra to explain the post and the reason behind it, IMA Bengal wrote, "Though in a democratic country, everyone has the right to belong to or support any political party of his or her own choice, discriminating a patient's consultation fee, based on his or her religion or political affiliation, is absolutely against medical ethics and professional conduct." The state IMA has warned Hazra that if he fails to reply within three days of receiving the letter, measures will be initiated against him.
Hazra on Sunday shared a post on his Facebook profile that said patients chanting ‘Jai Shree Ram' at his chamber would receive a special discount on the fees. The photo, which also had Hazra's photograph, him donning a cap and a scarf with the BJP's lotus symbol, had a QR code, which he called a ‘Jai Shree Ram discount code'. Patients apparently can scan the QR code to avail of the discount of Rs 500 on his fees at his private chamber at Ballygunge Phari.
As the post was widely circulated on social media, many in the fraternity expressed shock at this "kind of divisive approach towards patients that breached professional ethics", especially from a doctor who was a seasoned professional, well respected for his work. "We all can have our own political affiliations and be very open about it. But this kind of move is discriminating against patients on grounds of political leanings or religious background. This profession is called a noble profession and we should not cause such divide among our patients," said a senior doctor at a private hospital.
Hazra told TOI that a full-time BJP worker, with his consent, drafted the post and shared it on his social media platform. "I am a staunch BJP supporter and the ‘Jai Shree Ram QR code' was introduced, keeping in mind patients who support the BJP. Offering a discount to BJP supporters should not be seen as discrimination. In fact, people who do not want to use the ‘Jai Shree Ram scheme' can attend my free clinic, which I have been running for close to 30 years," Hazra said.
"People who are not in sync with this initiative of mine have the right to criticise me, but I have the right to defend my move," Hazra told TOI, adding it was his dream to contest elections as a BJP candidate in future.