Beyond Crowdfunding: Donate Wisely, Prevent Charity Scams, and Build Lasting Healthcare Solutions.
Dr. Fiaz Maqbool Fazili
Every morning in Kashmir carries its own rhythm. The serenity of Fajr prayers is usually followed by silence. Recently, however, that silence was broken by a familiar voice blaring from a loudspeaker mounted on a van. The appeal was emotional, almost theatrical—pleading for financial help for a seriously ill child. What was new this time was that every few hundred metres, the recorded message was interrupted by the sound of a child crying, apparently to intensify the emotional impact. The intention behind helping a needy or poor patient is unquestionably noble. Islam itself commands us: “Help one another in righteousness and piety” (Qur’an 5:2). Kashmiris have always been known for their generosity. Whenever tragedy strikes, people donate without hesitation. Yet compassion should never replace caution. Charity deserves both a kind heart and a discerning mind.
Several years ago, I encountered a similar donation-collecting van in our locality. Moved by the appeal, I stepped out and stopped it. Introducing myself as a doctor, I asked about the patient’s illness and whether I could assist medically. The occupants appeared uncomfortable. After repeated requests, they reluctantly showed me a man lying in the rear of the vehicle. When I asked about his symptoms, instead of answering, they handed me a worn, laminated “medical certificate” supposedly issued by the Director of SKIMS. Something immediately appeared suspicious. I contacted the then Director of SKIMS, Dr. Parvaiz Koul, shared the document with him, and received an unequivocal response: the certificate was fake, and SKIMS had never issued such a document. When I informed the driver that I intended to call the police, he admitted he was merely a daily wage driver earning ₹1,000 per day. Four or five similar vans, he said, travelled through different localities across the city every day collecting donations. The alleged patient eventually confessed that he was indeed suffering from an illness—but not the one described in the appeal. He admitted receiving only a fraction of the money collected, while the bulk allegedly went to those operating the racket. Following numerous public concerns and complaints, SKIMS issued a public advisory warning people about forged medical certificates, and law enforcement later initiated action against several such vehicles. That incident taught me an important lesson: every emotional appeal does not necessarily represent the truth.
The Rise of Medical Crowdfunding; Medical crowdfunding has become an important reality in modern healthcare. Digital platforms and social media have enabled thousands of genuine patients to raise funds for surgeries, cancer treatment, organ transplants and rare diseases. For many families, crowdfunding has literally meant the difference between life and death. This is especially true in low- and middle-income regions where out-of-pocket healthcare expenditure remains high. Despite government schemes such as AB PM-JAY and regional health insurance programmes, many expensive treatments, prolonged ICU care, advanced cancer therapy, rehabilitation and lifelong medications continue to impose catastrophic financial burdens. Studies have shown that healthcare expenses push millions of Indian households below the poverty line every year. In such circumstances, crowdfunding is not merely desirable—it often becomes essential. However, every powerful tool carries the risk of misuse.
When Charity Becomes Commerce; The success of genuine fundraising has unfortunately created opportunities for organised exploitation. Fake medical reports. Forged hospital certificates. Manipulated photographs. Borrowed X-rays. Recycled stories. Paid intermediaries. Donation-collecting vans. Unverified bank accounts. These have increasingly become part of a disturbing ecosystem where public sympathy is converted into private profit. The greatest casualty is not merely financial loss. It is public trust. Every fraudulent appeal makes people more suspicious of the next genuine patient. Ultimately, the poorest suffer the most.
Donate Wisely; Generosity should never mean abandoning due diligence. Before donating substantial amounts, a few simple questions can prevent misuse: Is the diagnosis verified by the treating hospital? Can the treating consultant be contacted? Is the fundraising account directly linked to the patient or an authorised trust? Are there authentic discharge summaries and investigation reports? Is there transparency regarding the amount required and how it will be utilised? Most reputable hospitals today have social work departments that can verify genuine cases. Likewise, established charitable organisations usually maintain audited records and transparent utilisation reports. Responsible giving strengthens charity. Blind giving sometimes strengthens fraud.
Beyond Individual Appeals; Crowdfunding is invaluable during emergencies. But it cannot become the primary healthcare financing model for an entire society. Every week we encounter new appeals: “Please save my father.” “Urgent liver transplant.” “Child suffering from leukaemia.” “Need ₹35 lakh.” “Last hope.” Each appeal touches our conscience. Yet one wonders whether society has unknowingly accepted crowdfunding as a substitute for building stronger healthcare institutions. Should every critically ill patient be compelled to narrate personal suffering before strangers to receive treatment? Should illness become a public fundraising campaign? Surely there must be a more dignified way.
The Case for Not for Profit or Charitable Hospitals; Instead of repeatedly collecting donations case by case, why not channel a significant proportion of charitable contributions into permanent healthcare institutions? A professionally managed, not-for-profit charitable hospital offers a sustainable alternative. Such institutions can: provide free or highly subsidised treatment to economically weaker patients; establish transparent patient welfare funds; negotiate lower medicine and implant costs through bulk procurement; offer affordable diagnostics and imaging; create endowment funds whose income supports future patients; maintain audited financial systems ensuring accountability; attract philanthropy from individuals, corporate CSR initiatives, not for profit (pareto principle or SGR model) and charitable foundations. Every rupee donated builds a permanent asset that serves thousands rather than supporting a single episode of illness.
Learning from Successful Models; Across India and internationally, numerous charitable hospitals have demonstrated that compassion and professionalism can coexist. Many have survived for decades because governance remained transparent, finances were audited, and patient welfare remained their central mission. These hospitals are not merely treatment centres. They become institutions of trust. People donate willingly because they know their contributions continue serving patients year after year. Instead of emotionally charged loudspeaker appeals, they invest in systems that quietly save lives every single day.
Building Trust Through Transparency; Transparency is the foundation of charitable healthcare. Whether funds are raised online, through community organisations or institutional trusts, donors deserve accountability. Regular audits. Independent oversight. Verified beneficiary lists. Outcome reporting. Periodic public disclosures. Such practices encourage more giving—not less. Trust multiplies generosity. Opacity destroys it.
Community Responsibility; Communities also have an important role. Religious institutions, social organisations, professional associations, resident welfare groups and NGOs can jointly create verified patient assistance mechanisms. Panels comprising doctors, social workers, accountants and community representatives can independently evaluate requests before financial support is released. Such systems reduce duplication, discourage fraud and ensure that limited resources reach those most deserving. Technology can further strengthen transparency through digital verification, hospital-linked payment gateways and real-time utilisation reports.
Does Compassion Need Wisdom? The answer is not to stop helping. Nor is it to become cynical whenever someone seeks assistance. The answer lies in combining compassion with verification. The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) encouraged charity but also emphasised honesty, trustworthiness and accountability. Our donations should relieve suffering—not unintentionally reward deception. When we donate wisely, we protect both the dignity of the patient and the sanctity of charity itself.
A Better Future; The return of donation-collecting vans should prompt deeper reflection. They are symptoms of two failures. One is the exploitation of human compassion by unscrupulous elements. The other is the absence of sufficiently strong charitable healthcare institutions capable of supporting vulnerable patients with dignity. Crowdfunding will always have a place during emergencies. Genuine appeals deserve generous support. But our long-term vision should extend beyond temporary fundraising campaigns. Imagine a Kashmir where every deserving patient, irrespective of income, receives quality treatment through professionally managed charitable hospitals supported by transparent community philanthropy. That would reduce dependence on emotional public appeals, minimise opportunities for fraud and transform charity from a reactive response into a permanent social investment. Helping one patient is an act of kindness. Building institutions that help generations is an act of vision. As donors, citizens and healthcare professionals, perhaps it is time we looked beyond crowdfunding—towards healthcare systems where generosity is organised, transparent, sustainable and worthy of the trust that society places in it.
(The author is a senior surgeon, healthcare policy analyst, quality and patient safety expert, and columnist on healthcare ethics, public policy, reforms and social issues.)
