Haryana suggests cap on treatment cost for poor in private hospitals

Sumedha Sharma

Tribune News Service

Gurugram, June 29

With healthcare costs spiralling, the Haryana Shehri Vikas Pradhikaran (HSVP) has sought a cap on the treatment cost for economically weaker section (EWS) patients on the lines of Covid-19 treatment package.

The HSVP has approached the state Health Department seeking proposals from hospitals for a mutually agreeable treatment cost package.

In talks with players

We are working with hospitals to ensure compliance of land allotment terms. We are mulling steps in consultation with stakeholders. — Vivek Kalia, Estate Officer, HSVP

Under HSVP's conditions for concessional land allotment to private hospitals, these are bound to provide free outpatient department (OPD) consultations to patients from EWS, below poverty line and class IV employees of the state government and offer 70 per cent discount in case of inpatient department (IPD) fee.

A review meeting was held yesterday with three top Gurugram hospitals — Artemis, Medanta and Fortis — which have been providing the benefit. While Artemis has from January to May treated 375 patients, offering Rs 48.5 lakh in discount, the figure stood at 54 for Medanta with a total discount of Rs 40.74 lakh. Medanta extended the benefit to many outside patients found eligible under the norms.

Fortis treated 1,938 patients during the period, offering a total discount of Rs 23 lakh. Over 80 per cent patients were registered in the OPD but not many opted for IPD treatments due to unaffordability.

"The figures are encouraging but we still have miles to cover. The number of EWS patients in OPDs is not even 5 per cent and the figure is more dismal in IPDs.

One of the key reasons is despite discounts, a majority of people can't afford admission and treatment in these hospitals. We are thus proposing a strategy change to provide maximum benefit," said a senior official who attended the meeting.

High charges of diagnostics tests and medicines, and procedures were identified as key reasons that made services unaffordable even after discount.

The hospitals were asked to switch to generic medicines and government diagnostic rates for special cases as mandated by one of the health department committees almost a year ago to increase the ambit of the scheme.

The department is planning to raise the maximum monthly income bar from Rs 5,000 to Rs 10,000 for eligibility.

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