New
Delhi, Aug 16 (PTI) The countrys premier medical institute is planning
to do away with charges on diagnostic procedures like blood tests,
ultrasound and X-rays, among others which cost less than Rs 500.
A
committee headed by Dr Anoop Saraya, HOD of Gastroenterology at AIIMS,
constituted to review the user fee charges at the hospital have
submitted its report in this regard.
The committee has
recommended that private ward charges should be increased to Rs 3,000
and Rs 5,000 per day to make up for the loss as their rates are cheaper
than semi-private ward charges in corporate hospitals that can be
accessed by Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS) employees.
"It
is recommended that charges on low cost investigations/interventions
(below Rs 500 per test) should be eliminated," Saraya said in his
report.
"We are planning to remove user charges for tests and procedures which cost less than Rs 500," a senior AIIMS official said.
As
far as increasing the rates of the tests on the basis of income is
concerned, the committee said there are challenges of means testing and
errors of inclusion and exclusion associated with identifying the
economically weaker sections of society, and recommended that a
differential fee arrangement should not implemented.
"As a result
it would be very difficult to provide equitable services to all
economic sections of the society through a differential fee arrangement.
"Out-of-pocket payment at the point of care is the most
important reason why health care expenses turn catastrophic for all
health care users," the committee said in its report.
Around
10,000 people visit the out-patient department every day and at any
given time, more than 2,000 patients are admitted to the hospital.
AIIMS
currently generates Rs 101 crore from user charges which include OPD
charges, diagnostic tests in various departments, radiology charges,
in-patient care and room rentals.
The cost of many routine tests at AIIMS is Rs 10 to Rs 25. PTI PLB KUN.
Source : http://indiatoday.intoday.in/
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