The Indian Medical Association (IMA) has demanded a ban on hospitals run by corporate groups, accusing them of "commercialising" healthcare and "unethical practices".

"Such hospitals serve only one percent of the population, charge exorbitantly and are a blot on the medical profession," IMA president-elect Ajay Kumar said here Tuesday.

"Our doctors are being exploited in corporate hospitals. Patients are being charged exorbitantly but the doctors are getting only a small margin (of the huge profits). Moreover, they are earning a bad name," he said.

According to Kumar, 80 percent of the money charged from patients in a corporate hospital goes to the management and the rest is given to the doctors.

He said the IMA would encourage doctors to form cooperatives to start their own hospitals or nursing homes. This will benefit the doctors and also make healthcare affordable for the patients.