Private Hospitals in Kolkata set to revise charges citing inflation

Kolkata: As the new financial year kicks off, several private hospitals in Kolkata are gearing up to revise their charges, signalling a potential increase in the cost of surgeries and medical consumables across certain facilities.  

Adjustments in bed and package charges as well as diagnostic costs might not immediately impact insured patients as it requires approval from insurance providers. Those paying out-of-pocket could face a significant increase in healthcare charges. Additionally, certain hospitals are poised to raise fees for outpatient consultations and diagnostic services. 

The decision to revise charges came in response to a notable increase in the prices of surgical devices, implants, procedural instruments, and ancillary materials. Hospital authorities stated that while the adjustments won't uniformly impact all services, procedures like angioplasty, cardiothoracic, and cardiovascular surgeries are likely to see a hike in costs. Moreover, specific implants such as MRI-compatible pacemakers and devices used in spine and orthopedic procedures may also incur higher charges, reports The Times of India.  

Explaining the rationale behind the price revisions, the head of a private hospital cited the need to partially offset inflationary pressures stemming from rising material costs, manpower expenses, and overhead expenditures. According to The Daily, Peerless Hospital, among others, is currently in the process of finalizing its revised fee structure, which encompasses increases in OPD consultation fees and diagnostic charges alongside adjustments to bed and package rates.

Similarly, BP Poddar Hospital is undertaking a "price correction" for select consumables, implants, and specialized equipment, particularly those imported and subject to market rate fluctuations. Supriyo Chakrabarty, group advisor, B P Poddar Hospital pointed out that considering an increase in prices of essential medical equipment like oxygenators, high-end guide wires and balloons for complex angioplasty, MRI-compatible pacemakers, patients paying through cash might have to pay even more. He also informed that the hike could be around 30%-35% "Fixed package rates could be raised if there is an absolute need to match up our costs in case of a significant fluctuation in market rates," said Chakrabarty.

On the other hand, for Charnock Hospital the hike may be from  8%-10% "Hospitals are squeezed for pricing while costs are rising. Insurance firms use their purchasing power to force very low PPN rates on hospitals, which are fixed for two years. Schemes like CGHS still have 2014 rates, while others have low pricing. All the load comes on cash patients," said Charnock MD Prashant Sharma. Desun Hospital might only increase the charges by 2%-5% on "select services". Some private hospitals, like Peerless, AMRI and Ruby, hiked bed and diagnostic charges 5%-10% last year also, reports The Daily. 

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