Panel to look into pvt hospitalsstate government' complaints about govt schemes

The state government will constitute a committee to look into several concerns that the private hospitals have put forth regarding the implementation of government schemes.

Minister for Health and Family Welfare K R Ramesh Kumar said on Monday that the committee would comprise experts from the government as well as private hospitals.
“Those in the profession know the challenges well. Hence, the decision to form a committee comprising all stakeholders,” he said.

In a meeting with the health minister, Federation of Healthcare Associations (FHS) has sought that the government constitute the committee. Dr Ratan Khelkar, executive director, Suvarna Arogya Suraksha Trust, has been entrusted with the responsibility of forming the committee.

Private players approached the government, asking it to clear the pending bills of Rs 65 crore they spent towards treatment of patients under various government schemes. Kumar said Rs 50 crore had already been cleared and the dues were Rs 65 crore.
 “The Finance department has sought a month to clear this. I have assured hospitals that it will be done within a month,” the minister said.

Dr Madan Gaekwad, president, Private Hospitals and Nursing Homes Association, said there were other concerns like duplication of cards and fake BPL card holders.

It has sought that the prices for state government packages be revised to meet their expenses. The committee is expected to look into this issue as well.

“There has to be a yearly revision of packages. There are so many who walk out of cars and walk into hospitals with BPL cards. Those who really deserve treatment might not be able to avail it due to this,” he said. The government has admitted that there are instances of mismatch in the bills sent by the private hospitals and the sanctioned money.

“We have sent bills of patients who have undergone treatment and have already been discharged without prior approval,” said Gaekwad.