Table 4.

Quotes illustrating NDAPs aversion to taking risks

“I don’t take much risk. Patients do not belong to anyone. Customers are not attached to you emotionally. If anything goes wrong, they will not leave you. That is why, it is better not to take any risk.” (Male NDAP practicing for last 25 years)

“These are very complex diseases. I don’t indulge in such treatment. It is a lifelong treatment. See, BP is related to the heart. Suppose I start the medicine and then the patient suffers in the future, who would be responsible?” (Male NDAP practicing for last 4 years)

“I don’t want to risk anything. If it is a minor case then I treat, otherwise I refer them. If I treat a serious case and succeed then good, if I don’t then people will blame me. This is a slum area, so then everyone will know about it. Somehow, I am practicing cautiously.” (Male NDAP practicing for last 10 years)

“I don’t keep any big instruments in my clinic, unlike other doctors. They might have a very good practice, so they are taking risks. I simply refer patients to MD doctors. We also understand things like ECG but what an MD doctor can find out we can’t”. (Female NDAP practicing for last 1 years)