Picture this. You are suffering from high blood pressure and suddenly have a panic attack. You need to see your regular doctor immediately, but can't because you don't have an appointment. The only option you have is to take a chance and hope he will see you. Your condition is such you need immediate attention, but you are the twentieth patient on the waiting list, and it will take at least four hours before you get your call - and even then you can't be sure he will see you - unless, your condition takes a serious turn for the worse and he is compelled to see you.

You don't want to see any other doctor, because a new doctor would mean the treatment might start all over again - fresh tests, ECG, etc. Even if you have no choice and want to see a new doctor, which "specialist" is available without an appointment? And an appointment is generally available not before fifteen days from the day you book.

So what happens to you? If you are very lucky, or your condition becomes serious, your doctor will see you. Otherwise, you have to bide your time, wait for a couple of hours, go back, try your luck once again the next day and the day after. Just imagine the amount of time that you are forced to spend, and the effect all this has on the state of your health.

How many clinics/hospitals have a specialist exclusively on standby for an SOS/emergency? There are, for inpatients, not for outpatients. Why is this so? Because inpatients are more profitable?

This is not to blame the specialists fraternity. You can't fault them for making themselves available only on the basis of an appointment, but some space has to be created, a way found for seeing their regular patients in times of an unexpected need. Because, you can't expect a patient who has been seeing a particular doctor for X number of years to suddenly switch over to a new doctor, just because his family doctor won't or can't see him without an appointment.

Given the reluctance or the inability of specialists to see patients without a prior appointment, there is a great market opportunity for a specialty clinic which offers the services of specialists without the need of an appointment!