Several small and medium hospitals have expressed dismay at additional discount in COVID-19 therapy charges, particularly in healthcare amenities in rural areas. The Maharashtra authorities on June 1 revised the present authorities proposal to cap the Covid-19 therapy charges, which can now be in pressure until August 31 this yr.
Dr Sanjay Patil, President, Hospital Board of India, Pune Chapter, stated the present notification is an extension of the earlier proposal to restrict therapy charges. Dr Patil stated, “Though most hospitals find these rates affordable, the revised notification is a setback for small and medium hospitals, which will be unable to survive after this further reduction.”
The notification which has divided the areas into Class A, B and C cities has specified common wards and isolation per day and ICU with ventilators and isolation. Class A cities, which embody Mumbai, Pune and Nagpur, will proceed to cost Rs 4,000 per day for routine therapy in isolation wards, whereas Rs 9,000 might be charged for admission to ICU and ventilator beds.
However, the price has been revised in Class B and Class C cities. For Class B cities, the charges have been capped at Rs 3,000 for routine wards and isolation, and Rs 2,400 for Class C cities. The per day charges for ICUs with ventilators and isolation for Class B cities and Class C cities are Rs 6,700 and Rs 5,400 respectively.
Class B cities embody Nashik, Amravati, Aurangabad, Bhiwandi, Solapur, Kolhapur, Vasai-Virar, Malegaon, Nanded and Sangli. Locations of different districts of Maharashtra fall underneath class C cities.
These charges embody monitoring and testing, medication, oxygen fees, consultations, mattress fees, nursing fees and meals. It excludes interventional procedures and high-end medication. State Health Minister Rajesh Tope, whereas asserting the charges, had stated that the price can be lowered in tehsil and district stage hospitals.
While charges on rural well being amenities have been made cheaper, Dr Patil stated smaller hospitals might need to be closed. “The Hospital Board of India, IMA, has at least 1,400 small and medium hospital owners, of which 200 are in Pune. In May last year, the cost of a jumbo oxygen cylinder was Rs 180. Today the cost is around Rs 800. A COVID-19 patient in the ICU requires at least nine jumbo oxygen cylinders if he is on ventilation support. Hospitals are grappling with the current limit of Rs 9,000 per day and smaller health facilities in rural areas will have to be closed to further reduce it,” Dr Patil stated.
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With inputs from TheIndianEXPRESS
