Kolkata: The State Health Department has held a meeting of all private cancer hospitals Empaneled under Swasthya Sathi after the report abuse of schemes with expensive drug prescriptions.
The meeting, is scheduled to take place on Monday in Swasthya Bhavan, “following instructions from the highest level of the government”, officials said.
“We got credible reports about expensive medicines, which were bleeding Sathi Swasthya scheme,” said a senior health department official to Ti on Saturday.
“The money will be a pharmaceutical company that sells these expensive drugs and some immoral doctors who may prescribe these drugs even when they do not need or may not significantly improve the patient’s condition or survival opportunities,” he added.
The government, said officials, is “concerned about misuse of schemes” intended to help patients.
“Our goal is to implement reforms in the Sathi Swasthya scheme, especially for cancer treatment.
There are credible feedback from expensive drug prescriptions that may not be needed at all.
The main objective of this scheme is to provide care to the patient.
This goal is defeated If a patient must stop treatment in the middle after the closing of Sathi Swasthya runs out because of excessive expensive medicines prescribes, “said a senior health senior official who was involved in the implementation of the scheme.
“We intend to bring more specific guidelines and packages for cancer care and want to take input from a private hospital before doing it,” he added, explaining the reasons behind Monday’s meeting.
The universal health scheme of the ambitious Bengal Government provides annual cover up to RS 5 lakh for the treatment of various diseases, including cancer.
“Many complaints that have reached us involving expensive immunotherapy drugs,” said an official.
These drugs are often used in second or three-line care, say cancer specialists.
“Some immoral doctors prescribe this drug after treatment of first-line chemotherapy.
But what are the benefits if a patient is forced to use Rs 5 Lakh from an annual cover only at two or three doses of treatment and then do not have financial support for the remaining care?” Medical oncologist asked.
“Who cares for patients after that? The only enhancer is a pharmaceutical company that has sold drugs and immoral doctors who have prescribed drugs,” he added.
Other oncologists talk about recent attacks at drug stores installed with private hospitals after the patient’s family complains that 20 mg immunotherapy drugs, which should be free with a 100 mg bottle, sold to them at a price.
“This is just one example of how these drugs are misused to influence,” he added.
Some doctors also felt that the government should not allow private hospitals to sell drugs at a maximum retail price under the Swasthya Sathi scheme because the MRP is often higher than actual costs.