NEW DELHI: To ensure availability of
health infrastructure
amid rapidly rising COVID-19 cases, the Centre has asked States to proactively engage with the
private sector
and consider pooling in public and private healthcare facilities.
States have also been asked to negotiate with
local private healthcare providers
and arrive at reasonable rates, while factoring in cost elements for personal safety equipment for healthcare providers.
“It has been suggested that the rates, once fixed, must be widely publicised so that both the patients and
service providers
are fully aware and capacities are used optimally,” the government said in a statement.
The move comes in the wake of reports indicating an emerging shortage of healthcare infrastructure including hospitals with ICU beds, ventilators, oxygen supported beds etc., for management of COVID-19 patients. There have also been reports of overcharging by healthcare providers for
COVID-19 treatment
.
More on Covid-19“Being seized of the emerging scenario, ministry of health & family welfare has addressed the states/UTs to engage with the private healthcare providers to facilitate enhanced bed availability and critical care health facilities as well as to ensure fair and transparent charges for services provided,”
the health ministry
said.
Citing prices of critical care fixed under Central government run health insurance schemes like the Pradhan Mantri Jan Aarogya Yojana (PMJAY) and
Central Government Health Scheme
(CGHS) which facilitates treatment in private facilities, the Centre suggested States to follow similar models.
“In order to ensure that patients receive prompt, good quality and care at reasonable rates, it has been suggested to states to have consultations with the local private healthcare providers and arrive at reasonable rates, while factoring in cost elements for personal safety equipments for healthcare providers,” the ministry said.