Dengue: BBMP to reimburse amount spent on platelets

The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike will reimburse the amount spent on platelets to underprivileged patients who are affected by dengue.

A resolution to this effect has been passed on August 30.

According to the BBMP officials, the poor are spending a lot of money on platelets as dengue cases are increasing in the city. Some of them have even lost their lives due to financial constraints, they added.

BBMP Commissioner N Manjunath Parasad said, “If the patients submit their bills, the BBMP will reimburse the amount.”

Chief health officer Dr M N Lokesh said platelets have to be replaced if their number is less than 20,000 and in case of bleeding. In order to get reimbursement, the patients have to submit an application along with the bills to the health officer of their constituency. The money will be reimbursed after the recommendation of the BBMP's Health Department, he added.

Dr Lokesh said the move has been taken as private hospitals are exploiting patients. It is applicable to government as well as private hospitals, he added.