Kolkata: Acceptance of patients with a Swasthya Sathi (SS) scheme – the insurance plan of the subsidized state government that offers coverage of up to RS 5 lakh per year – has been stalled in several city private hospitals that have “run out of bed” to accommodate.
These patients.
While some people say their SS environment is full, others claim they are not in a position to recognize more patients under the scheme due to financial and space constraints.
Some hospitals also say that because of the low level of scheme, doctors often refuse to treat or operate SS patients, which is why they are forced to keep the number of patients small.
Most of the city hospitals have allocated a number of beds for schemes, which have been extorted in recent weeks with a sharp increase in the number of non-covid patients who have delayed treatment due to pandemics.
The majority of these patients are covered by Sathi Non-Swasthya insurance.
Fortis Hospital, for example, has stopped acknowledging patients – both covid and non-covid – under the scheme.
There is no official reason offered for the decision.
Medica Superspecialty Hospital has 30 SS patients who claim right now and do not recognize new ones.
“The number has floated between 30-40 for the past few months but we have no ICU vacancies for SS patients now.
While this is one reason not to recognize more SS patients, the number has never passed 40 in our hospital,” said Medica Chairperson Alok Roy.
Belle Vue Clinic, too, has stopped receiving SS after receiving 22 patients.
“If vacancies happen and we believe we have resources to meet these patients, we might admit more.
But now, we are saturated,” said a Belle Vue official.
The Amri Hospital has 60 beds intended for SS in three units in Dhakuria, Salt Lake and Mukundapur.
Ward at this time “overflowed” with around 75 received under this category.
This places pressure on hospital resources, which is why acceptance in the place has been stopped, said CEO of Amri Rupak Barua.
“We are not in a position to admit because of the clinical allegations Swasthya Sathi is not feasible for us.
The patient was asked to return after 3-7 days.
Apart from the delay in insurance payment also put us under pressure.
Even though before, it will be done in 20 days, Now we have to wait for 45-60 days, “Barua said.
Peerless Hospital currently has 38 SS patients and does not have further vacancies.
“Patients who are looking for now will have a substantial waiting period,” said CEO of Nearless Sudipta Mitra.
However, some like the RN Tagore International Institute of Cardiac Sciences (RTIICS), however, have made the door open for SS patients, even though it is 90% occupancy now.
“We have more than 60 SS patients claiming now and have no plans to stop acceptance,” said Zonal Chief Rtiik R Venkatesh.
The acceptance under the scheme will be easier to have rationalized rates, feeling Rupak Barua, as well as the president of the East Indian Hospital Association (AHEI).
“We have appealed to the state government to rationalize charges and still waiting for responses,” he added.