Issues still pending; pvt hospitals turn away elective surgery cases

Private hospitals on Tuesday turned away a few elective cases who had approached the hospital to avail treatment under various state government schemes.

Elective surgeries in medical terminology refer to scheduled operations that do not involve medical emergency.

The Federation of Healthcare Associations (FHS), an association of private hospitals, said there was no written assurance by the government even after a meeting with K R Ramesh Kumar, Minister for Health and Family Welfare, on Monday.  “There is still no clarity. We are yet to get the minutes of the meeting. We are hoping to get a written confirmation from the government after which we will resume all our services,” said Dr Madan Gaekwad, an office bearer of the Association.

The committee comprising private and government doctors to address several issues pertaining to government health schemes should be constituted soon as promised by the minister, Gaekwad said.

He said the government’s call to patients to visit government hospitals first for treatment of ailments was a good move.

“The minister is of the opinion that if all patients rush to private hospitals for treatment, upgrading government hospitals or improving facilities there will serve no purpose,” he said.

Private hospitals had approached the minister with several challenges they faced in serving patients who availed treatment under government schemes.

Among the concerns were non-payment from the government for patients who have availed treatment, no timely revision of package rates and fake BPL cards.