PANAJI
Private hospitals demanded that all 447 procedures be allowed to be performed with a charge fixed by the hospital and not as per Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS) rates. The extra charges would have to be paid by the patient.
For example, a hysterectomy that costs around Rs 25,000 at a government hospital would cost Rs 50,000 at a private hospital. The difference (Rs 25,000) would have to be paid by the patient to the private hospital on their own while Rs 25,000 would be deducted as premium from the DDSSY account.
“Those who cannot afford private hospital charges will go to GMC while those who can afford to pay higher amounts would chose private institutions,” explained a private practitioner. This will also lead to maintaining quality of the procedure without having to worry if CGHS rates are to be implemented.
Another doctor said, \"Our institutions are not here to make big profits... we are looking to improve infrastructure through the little profits that we make. If we accept CGHS rates, we will have to compromise on quality of the procedure\".
Officials of private hospitals in their recent meeting with the Health Minister last week expressed concern saying, the scheme if implemented in its present form would lead to an exodus of patients to GMC, who otherwise flock to their hospitals.
The general contention among private hospitals is limiting the 278 procedures to only government hospitals, mainly GMC. The remaining 169 procedures according to them are extremely complicated and would cost more than the prices quoted in the scheme. The 278 procedures include, cardiac interventions, cardio thoracic and vascular surgeries, bone and joint procedures and major spinal surgeries including cervical spine surgery, as well as certain nephrology and neurology related procedures among others.
Complicated procedures including pacemaker implantation, total hip replacement, excision of bone tumors and bone marrow transplants have been listed as being availed at private hospitals.
