PANAJI
The State government on Friday slashed the cap on rates notified for Covid treatment at the private medical establishments with ICU facilities by 20 per cent with the intention of making the private services more affordable to the common man during the Covid crisis.
The order to this effect was issued by additional health secretary Vikas Gaunekar and will remain in force till April 30.
During these eight days, the new rates will be applicable to all patients including those admitted at present.
The existing rates for Covid treatment in private hospitals were capped in September 2020.
The rate for the general Covid ward has now been reduced from Rs 10,000 to Rs 8,000 per day, the rate for twin sharing Covid wards has been further slashed from Rs 13,000 to Rs 10,400 per day, the rate for single private rooms has been brought down from Rs 16,000 to Rs 12,800 and the rate for ICU with ventilator occupancy has now been set at Rs 19,200 per day as against the previous R 24,000.
The packages include admission charges, intensivist, primary and specialist consultant charges, bed charges, nursing and resident doctor charges, nutritional diet, PPE kits for staff, X-ray, ECG, USG,2D echo-cardio monitor, infusion pump, catheterization, CBC, FBSL, PPBSL, HBA 1c, creatinine, liver function test, blood group and routine medicines including multivitamin, Vitamin C, zinc, vitamin D, paracetamol, antacid, antiallergic, hydroxichloroquine, azithromycin, doxycycline, levoflaxin, dexamthasone, ivermectin, dietary changes.
However, the packages do not include charges for diagnostic interventions, special drugs, use of special equipment, other special procedures including surgery and extra oxygen flow other than ICU.
Incidentally, the state government has taken no steps whatsoever since October 11, 2020 to provide insurance coverage to Covid-19 treatment under the Deen Dayal Swasthya Seva Yojana (DDSSY).
It may be recalled that this move was initially notified on October 8, 2020 and was welcomed by every section of the society. However, three days later, the state government kept the notification in abeyance. While Chief Minister Pramod Sawant had not offered any explanation about the withdrawal of the financial cover, Health Minister had assured that a fresh notification would be issued.
