Are private clinics ripping us off

I cannot comment on profits or insurance as have no idea but I did notice how a doctor prescribed meds depending on where you go to. For ex. I got sick, went to govt. clinic, paid 1KD for seeing Dr. given meds, and got a signed sick paper. I was given 3kinds of meds only, cough, panadol, antibiotic, Dr. didn't do anything just looked at me and asked me what's wrong with me. I diagnosed myself, lol! But,in the semi private hosp where I work, for a child who came with mild cough, simply 'cos of the change of wheather was given about 10 meds if I remember, cough,pain, strong antibiotic, suppository for pain again,nebules for the cough, nebules again. another streoid nebules,and the list goes on.... Patients goes home with not less than 3-4 plastic bagfull of meds. It goes both ways though, patients demand from Dr's. that they be given everything 'cos their company paid for everything anyway. And the Dr's. on their side, writes everything 'cos it's all been paid for, why worry. I can only say  that before taking anything,ask the Dr. himself what's it for, why,is it necessary? can't one kind of meds be not enough? why? what will this do? what will happen? how long will it take effect?  'cos at the end of the day, it's all about your health. Don't stuff yourself with meds you don't need.

When a doctor, again, only my observation and opinion, prescribes drugs based on the company profits, which keep the doctor in a job, I question ethics which should be the doctors priority.
Now on the medication side. I worry that all those drugs together could be counterproductive and may cause more issues that they resolve.

Of course it will cause more issues, our body can only take as much, and no, in the hosp where I work, most Dr's. priorities-if not all, is to satisfy the patients wants not their needs, ethics went out of the window long time ago. And the sad part is nobodys checking.

short answer: yes. you are being ripped off as "big daddy insurance" is seen as footing the bill; i once went to a Dr. for flu meds and he tried to talk me into surgery for my "deviated nasal septum", my only question was; will this DNS kill me? No? will it affect me in any way down the line? No? thank you for your time.

i compare it to going to the mechanic, once you pop the hood everything is fair game

as you said, whose monitoring the way these private clinics are operating. The government should have an oversight committee to insure that there are controls in place to protect us all from clinics with no more in mind than a profit margin.
And the pharmacies profits must be going to the clinics. The more thought you give it the more it makes you want to steer clear of them.
The other issue being the more patients the doctor sees the more potential for profit. So, is the doctor giving you the best attention possible or only thinking constantly about the patient behind you.

I can only confirm what has been said here. I was shocked with the bag full of drugs I got when my son got a respiratory infection. Half of it was either unnecessary or just overkill. Luckily I always carefully read the instructions that come with any drug to understand how and when it is used.
They also prescribe antibiotics left & right without ever determining if it is a viral or bacterial infection. This is just plain reckless and very dangerous down the line.
Unfortunately, like many things in Kuwait, this is just a big business and it is ran like one.

Am working in a hosp for 3yrs now, I see it everyday, I wish we have this back in my country, go home with bag full of meds. Same goes on in Saudi Arabia too, worked there 5yrs- it's the norm... lol!