Rajeev Pandey, Ranchi:
Even though the Central Government has fixed the prices of stents for the convenience of heart patients, the patients have not been able to get relief in the cost of its treatment. Since there is no option to charge more for stents, private hospitals have found new ways to collect money. The treatment is in a package, which hardly costs Rs 70,000 to Rs 80,000 (all expenses included). But in the name of installation of one stent, Rs 1.05 to 1.75 lakh is being charged from the patient and for installation of two stents, up to Rs 2.25 lakh is being charged.
Due to Corona effect, eating habits and stress, the number of heart patients and heart attack cases are increasing in Jharkhand too. Youth aged between 30 to 35 years are having heart attacks and are being treated in private hospitals. Here, superspeciality hospitals of the state have established cath labs with the aim of charging huge amounts in the name of treatment of heart patients. Here Rs 90,000 to Rs 1.75 lakh is being spent on angioplasty.
If the patient has to have two stents inserted, the expense reaches Rs 2.25 lakh. This is after the maximum price of the stent has been fixed at Rs 40,000. Some heart doctors also believe that despite fixing the price of stent, performing angioplasty in private hospitals has become expensive.
If a patient undergoes angioplasty in a charitable hospital in the capital, then its package is Rs 90,000 plus the cost of the stent. That means the expenditure there ranges from Rs 1.05 lakh to Rs 1.30 lakh. At the same time, if the patient has to undergo two stents, then the package is worth one lakh and the stent is worth Rs. Apart from this, if there is additional need of balloon, the expenditure may increase by Rs 15,000 to Rs 20,000. Here, the cost of installing a stent in a corporate hospital ranges from Rs 1.25 to 1.50 lakh. The cost of two additional stents will be added. Here also, if the additional expense of the balloon is added, the expense will reach Rs 1.75 lakh.
Hospitals collect money by showing various charges
Private hospitals add various items to the cost of treatment. To calculate the EMI of machine and building construction, he adds OT staff charges, nursing charges, technician charges, anesthesia and ICU charges separately. This increases money.
Doctors get only 12% to 15% of the package.
In charitable and corporate hospitals, even though huge amounts are charged from patients for treatment, doctors do not get much money. Only 12 to 15 percent of the package is given to the doctor for the procedure. Doctors also admit that they are not getting much benefit, but they are not able to say anything because they have to work every day.
Expenses for third party insurance increase by Rs 25,000 to Rs 30,000.
If a heart patient has taken insurance, then the cost of treatment increases. Having third party insurance separately increases the total cost of treatment (superspeciality and corporate hospitals) by Rs 25,000 to Rs 30,000. Companies give different rates to hospitals. That is, the cost of implanting one stent in a heart patient is Rs 1.75 lakh and the cost of implanting two stents is Rs 2.25 to 2.35 lakh.
‘BollywoodWallah’ had launched a campaign in the year 2015
‘BollywoodWallah’ has been continuously highlighting the shortcomings in health services. In the year 2015, ‘BollywoodWallah’ had launched a campaign against charging arbitrary money from heart patients in private hospitals. After this, the Health Department formed an investigation team and got the hospitals examined. This was confirmed in the investigation. However, after a few months, the central government fixed the price of the stent.
You can share your pain with ‘BollywoodWallah’
Common problems of patients are being highlighted through ‘Aspatal Katha’. You can also share your grievances related to the arbitrariness of hospitals. You can send your information along with related documents to e-mail id rajib.pandey@prabhatkhabar.in.