Rajasthan spells out rates to be charged at private hospitals for COVID treatment

This came in wake of confusion regarding protocol for COVID-19 treatment, as to which investigations, medicines, and expenses were included in the same that resulted in the bill to be much more after the hospitals charged medicines which were not included in the charges fixed by the government. Taking note of the same, the health ministry held discussions with collectors of each of the districts, principals of government medical colleges and senior doctors, and representatives of private hospitals to agree to a certain fee structure.

According to the new guidelines, facilities can charge up to 5000 to 7000 for critical patients and up to 9000 including intensive care charges. The additional fees including consultation fees and charges for the PPE kit. Medication, lunch, and other services are also included in this rate. Previously, the private medical facilities could charge up to 2000 per day for a general bed, and ICU with ventilation will cost up to 4000.

In this regard, the health department issued a notification stating that the hospitals and health facilities under the National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL) can secure rupees 5000 rupees 8250, and rupees 9990 for the certain categories of patients, while non-NABL accredited hospitals can only charge up to approximately 5000, 7000 and 9000 per day for the same.

The notification also mentions that Rs 1,200 for the cost of PPE is included in all three packages. The notification also lists a number of medicines and tests which will be included in the package. While drugs such as HCQ, Lopinavir/Ritonavir, and Doxycyclin have been included in the package, some medicines which are excluded are injections such as Remdesivir, Tociluzumab. The fees also will not cover plasma therapy.

"The rates for treatment stated in the previous notification didn't include several medicines. As a result, people got admitted to private hospitals, and later, the bill turned out to be much more after the hospitals charged medicines which were not included in the charges fixed by the government. In order to change this, the latest notification has been issued after we asked our technical core group to prescribe the minimum protocol for diagnostics and treatment. We have specified and fixed rates of medicines as per their rates and condition of the patient so that the public can't be charged more," Principal Secretary, Health, Akhil Arora told The Indian Express.

The minister also stated that soon they are going to develop a system that will assist the government to have the ideas of existing beds in several private hospitals, reports the daily.