JOIN USPvt hospitals seek hike in tariff of health schemes
The Karnataka Private Hospitals’ Forum (KPHF) has urged the State government to revise the tariff for treatment extended under Vajapayee Arogyasri and Yashaswini schemes.
The Forum, in a press statement has said that the services offered at private and charitable hospitals under the two schemes were being affected due to rampant issue of BPL cards and low tariffs.
In tier II cities, BPL cardholders comprise more than 80-85 per cent of the patients availing these schemes. The hospitals are paid only one-third of the actual cost of the surgery. These hospitals were willing to treat the patients under the schemes since they composed a “manageable component”of the patient volume, the press release said.
Says Dr Prashant B Katakol, Coordinator, KPHF, the hospitals sustained themselves by cross-subsidising the schemes with paying patients. The model has become unviable with the increase in the number of BPL cardholders and without an upward revision of the tariff.
He said the tariff has not been revised in spite of repeated appeals to the government and assurance by Yashaswini and Suvarna Arogya Trusts.
The KPHF comprises Association of Healthcare Providers India (AHPI), Indian Medical Association (IMA), Private Hospitals and Nursing Home Association (PHANA) and Karnataka Private Medical Establishment Association (KPMEA). The Forum has 400 network hospitals under its umbrella.