A survey of Public Opinion on the Informal Payments to Physicians in Kerman, Iran (I.R.)

Informal payment known as under the table payment is an additional direct contribution above what is stipulated by the terms of official authorities. To determine the opinion of those referring to private and public health care centers regarding the under the table fees requested by physicians. In this cross-sectional survey conducted in 2005, 525 individuals referring to public and private health centers were requested to participate in an interview regarding their attitudes towards under the table payments. A researcher made questionnaire which its validity and reliability were confirmed based on a pilot study, was used. Five-hundred individuals agreed to be interviewed (95% response rate). Slightly more than 54% were male and 68% were urban residents. More than 90% of them had adequate information about informal payments. From the studied subjects’ perspective if the patients gave the payments willingly it was acceptable but if they were forced or obliged especially before the service has been provided it was unacceptable. Most of them (87%) did not know where they should refer and complain against the physicians demanding informal payments and just 17.8% of them were optimistic about suing effectiveness. In spite of negative attitude of community towards the under the table payment and considering it as illegal, they did not tend to complain against physicians.