Health Ministry proposes to revise CGHS rates, AHPI welcomes move

Delhi: Taking cognizance of the basic cost of providing healthcare treatments, the Union health ministry has proposed to increase the treatment rates at almost 600 private hospitals that are empanelled with the Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS). 

Dr Alex Thomas of the Association of Healthcare Providers (AHPI) India stated that they have been urging the authorities for a long to revise the cost structure under the CGHS scheme. 

Medical Dialogues team had earlier reported that due to delayed processing of their reimbursement claims and long-pending dues, the private hospital had already stopped cashless facilities for CGHS patients and leave the program last year.

A commission was established by the health ministry to evaluate the charges imposed on the users, who are primarily active and retired central government officials and their families. The following month may see the release of the new cost structure.

Dr Alex Thomas, the founder of AHPI told Medical Dialogues, "We have been working on the issue for the last 5 years. This year we had a meeting with the Health Ministry officials and they have promised that they will increase the reimbursement rate. We also had a meeting with the pensioners' association as they also need to understand our position and the problems that we are facing. They should understand that we cannot provide service and sustain this kind of payment as this is far below the original cost."

He further stated, "Many of the private hospitals failed to provide service under the scheme and informed the government that they will not provide services under the scheme until the rates are revised. We talked to PMO and we came to know that the proposal of increasing the amount has been sent to the finance ministry and we are just waiting for their approval."

"However, I don't know how much amount of the cost will be increased because if it is not increased by at least 10% then the amount will still be less than the cost price. We have also come to know that the government is going to maintain a unilateral cost structure for all the private hospitals in the metro cities. It is not only the beneficiaries of the scheme who will be affected if we stop providing the services, there are also other organisations like insurance companies who follow this scheme. We want to work in collaboration with the government. We have no intention of defying the government," he added.