Chennai: The Tamilnadu branch of Indian Medical Association has announced the treatment fee of coronavirus patients at private hospitals.
The body has said Rs 2,31,820 should be collected as fee for treatment of patient with mild symptoms for 10 days. Similarly, for treatment of patients with severe symptoms the amount has been fixed as Rs 4,31,311 for 17 days.
Sources said that the fee covered hospital charges, pharmacy, consumables and investigation. This fees is excluding of consulting charges and other expenses.
The above rates are very high, feel health experts, activists and general public, who say that this will keep Covid-19 treatment away from the reach of the poor and the middle class.
Says Venkatesan of Kancheepuram, “how an ordinary person can afford this? This is an unprecedented situation and private hospitals should only collect very minmial charges.”
Memes criticising private hospitals’ fees are all over social media. Meanwhile, looking to address the issue of patients coughing up huge amounts for undergoing Covid-19 treatment at private hospitals, the Tamilnadu government on 4 June announced a fixed rate card under the Chief Minister’s Comprehensive Health Insurance Scheme.
The rate payable by the government to private hospitals for people availing COVID-19 treatment under the CMCHIS has been categorised on the basis of parameters like symptoms and facilities.
While making it clear that beneficiaries need not pay anything to hospitals, the government also outlined conditions for the hospitals.
The rates are for private hospitals authorised to treat coronavirus patients and only the existing beneficiaries under the CMCHIS can avail treatment.
The maximum payable rate per day for treatment in general ward for asymptomatic people and those with mild symptoms is Rs 5,000, Health Minister C Vijayabaskar said.
For treatment in Intensive Care Unit with all facilities ranges between Rs 9,000 and Rs 15,000, he said.
The conditions are allocation of 25 percent of the total bed capacity for CMCHIS beneficiaries, and no charges or fee for patients separately (in addition to what has been specified in the rate card and which is payable by the government to private hospitals).
If hospitals demanded charges over and above the specified rate structure, the recognition under the CMCHIS will be cancelled, the Minister said.
A panel headed by Tamilnadu Health Secretary Beela Rajesh submitted a report to the government on the rates that could be paid to the private hospitals for COVID-19 treatment.
Considering the report, the government fixed the rates and gave approved it. For more information and complaints toll free no 18004253993 may be contacted.