Making transparency the foundation of trust in medicine

The article emphasizes the critical role of transparency in India's healthcare system to build and sustain public trust. It identifies three key areas for improvement: regulatory bodies (like State Medical Councils and NMC), clinical care systems (hospitals/clinics), and individual doctor-patient interactions. The author highlights challenges such as opaque regulatory portals, lack of clear communication on costs and grievances, and the absence of a formal 'Open Disclosure' culture. Proposed solutions include user-friendly digital registers, formalizing open disclosure, integrating transparency into medical training, and fostering shared decision-making to reduce mistrust and violence against healthcare workers.