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AIIMS slashes rates of heart related treatments

Last Updated 12 July 2012, 20:14 IST

Cardiothoracic Centre of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences has slashed its rates, including those of certain life saving procedures have also been brought down.

In the May 28, 2012 meeting of Standing Finance Committee (SFC) the reduced rates were approved, while those enhanced were rejected.

Earlier, for Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting (CABG) along with the valve to restore blood flow to the heart, patients had to pay a flat amount of
Rs 1,30,000. Now the patients will pay Rs 55,000 and buy the valve of their choice.

With multiple companies making valves starting at Rs 40,000, patients get the choice to manage their finances.

Similarly, for aortic dissections, instead of a flat amount of Rs 1,60,000, patients will now pay Rs 60,000, while
buying valve or valved conduit or material for grafting themselves. Many other procedures have been divided up similarly.

Costs of cardio-radiology packages have also been revised. Embolisation will cost Rs 3,500 plus cost of device, instead of flat Rs 8,000.

For angioplasty, patients will pay Rs 8,000 excluding cost of device, in place of Rs 32,000.
Pericardiectomy, surgical procedure to remove outer layer of heart interfereing in heart’s normal functioning, will cost Rs 12,000 instead of Rs 35,000.

Rates for many other heart and chest related treatments have been slashed.

“Because of the competitive market, we are able to cut-down price of the disposable items. We have passed on the benefits to the patients. We took an average of all the procedures and realised that costs for many have gone down,” said Dr Balram Airan, chief, Cardiothoracic Centre.

He added that over the years, surgical skills of the doctors have also increased.
“We conducted more than 2,400 operations last year.

If surgical operations go well, patients stay for a shorter period at the hospital, using less material which brings down average cost of procedures.

It is a combination of enhanced surgical skills and competitive market due to which we could reduce the prices,” said Airan.

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(Published 12 July 2012, 20:14 IST)

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