PANAJI
Deen Dayal Swasthya Seva Yojana, the universal mediclaim scheme of the State Government, has taken another twist with private hospitals demanding that all 447 procedures defined in the scheme be extended to them. Presently, of the 447 procedures, 279 will be treated at Goa Medical College (GMC) and Hospital, Bambolim, while only 169 are planned to be treated at private hospitals.
Deputy Chief Minister and Health Minister Francis D’Souza on Thursday held a two-hour long maiden meeting with the representatives of GMC and private hospitals including Manipal Hospitals, Apollo Victor Hospitals, Nusi Wockhardt Hospitals and SMRC, among others to discuss the scheme.
Interestingly, though the State Government has been announcing several times that 169 procedures will be treated at private hospitals empanelled by the insurance company -- United India Insurance Company Limited -- they were however, not called for a single meeting till date.
He has now decided to take up the matter with Defence Minister and Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar, who had designed the scheme.
Speaking to The Goan after the meeting, D’Souza said, “We have discussed the issue at length. They have said that the interventions extended to them are uncommon and cannot be used frequently. So they claim that it doesn’t make a difference whether we extend it to them or not. So their contention is that, either extend all the 447 procedures or don’t extend any of the procedures.”
“There are still two-and-a-half months for the scheme to be functional. Though these are not the main issues, they are relevant. So, I will talk to Parrikar and Parsekar and see what can be done about it”, he said.
“They (private hospitals) have said that we should not block the common man from approaching them and he should be given the freedom to choose the hospital for treatment. What we have to say is GMC is 1200-bedded hospital and there are nearly 750 students studying there and all the small procedures should be given to them”, he said.
As regards surgery packages are concerned, private hospitals have also said that based on package cost listed in the scheme, for those above poverty line, they should be allowed to charge cost of medicines and consumables, blood and blood products as part of patient treatment based on the consent of the patient. They have, however, said that they can be allowed to charge differential cost of package of (hospital package “ scheme package) through the patient based on his consent.
And for this, all empanelled hospitals will sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with defined fix packages pricing with insurance company accordingly and ensure that all the packages are within said costs to the patient. The population below poverty line, will however be charged as per the existing packages priced in the scheme, which will help the patients have a choice in choosing the hospital and cost of services.
