Doctors and their patients

What is happening to the medical profession and why are doctors charging "upfront" fees,high at times,before you can even enter their offices and is Discovery Health and other medical aids aware of this being done and why. Tried on two occasions to make appointments and on both a fee of R1200.00 had to be made before you could see the doctor. One feels that doctors are only there to get rich as fast as possible and to h --l with the patients.