Kolkata: Sathi Swasthya card or other government health insurance cards have been made mandatory to enter government hospitals in Bengal.
According to an advisor issued by the State Health Department, the decision was taken “considering the broad coverage of Swasthya Sathi.” Those who are borne in a scheme such as URAK, CGHS and WBHS will also be eligible to enter in government hospitals, the adviser said.
The State Health Department has asked private hospitals not to collect Sathi Swasthya patients more than the rates determined for various maintenance packages under the scheme.
It has also requested private hospitals to prescribe generic drugs to patients received under the scheme that offer insurance protection of Rs 5 lakh.
Investigation costs, too, must hold on to the rates determined by the government for Sathi Swasthya patients, have been said.
“…
this is expected that most of the population has a Sathi Swasthya card or CGHS / WBHS / ESIC card,” the advisor was released on Monday.
This direction follows the allegations of the patient’s part charged more than the specified tariff.
Private hospitals state that they adhere to the rates determined for Sathi Swasthya patients.
“There are no questions to violate the Sathi Swasthya rates that are prescribed for care or investigations.
But we cannot always prescribe generic drugs because more than 70% of the drugs needed by patients are not available in generic form,” said CEO of Peerless Hospital Sudipta Mitra.
The Association of East Indian Hospital (AHEI) has decided to appeal against advisers.
“Swasthya Sathi will lose its efficacy if the level of emergency treatment is fixed at Rs 5,000.
While we accept that other tariffs must remain at the specified package costs, emergency maintenance costs cannot be limited to low numbers.
This is not practical and opposes logic,” said the President Ahei Rupak Barua.