Council Post: Healthcare Needs Better-Informed Patients, Not Just Consumers

Sas Mukherjee, CEO de Catalyst Solutions, argues that healthcare needs better-informed patients—not just “consumers” comparing options. He says the usual consumer framework breaks down because healthcare is built on a fiduciary relationship, with patients relying on physicians for expertise and guidance during vulnerable moments. Mukherjee highlights structural obstacles: health plans shape affordability through coverage and reimbursement, providers need appropriate payment, and patients often lack the context to make confident, value-based choices. He warns that transparency alone—like price estimates or ratings—doesn’t explain diagnoses, necessity of tests, or how to weigh benefits, risks, quality of life, and cost. He calls for shared decision-making supported by clinician trust and time.