IT News
Imphal, June 4:
In an advertisement dated May 22, 2021, Chief Executive Officer of the State Health Agency Manipur, Laltanpuii Vancchong said that CMHT and PMJAY beneficiaries in need of COVID-10 related treatment will receive free of cost treatment at any empanelled hospital under the CMHT/PMJAY.
However, to a COVID-19 patient who has CMHT card and went for treatment at the empanelled private hospital, it appears to be a blatant lie.
Talking to Imphal Times a family member of the COVID-19 patient said that after getting information of the free treatment at any empanelled hospital, they immediately admitted at a private hospital.
After admitted to the hospital, they have been informed that under the CMHT a Covid related patient gets Rs. 3,800/- per day for treatment at general wards and Rs. 5,600/- with ventilator supports.
According to government revise private empanelled hospital charges for Covid treatment, charges fixed per day for the patient in General ward/ isolation is Rs. 3000/-, Rs. 7000/- for high dependency unit, Rs. 8000/- for ICU without ventilators use and Rs. 10,000/- for ICU with ventilator used. The charges are for registration, bed charges and Nursing and boarding charges.
The revised charges mentioned that additional charges for medicines, Oxygen, Pathology and radiology test and other extra medical procedures Rs. 7000/- for high dependency unit, Rs. 8000/- for ICU without ventilators use and Rs. 10,000/- for ICU with ventilator used.
It also said that medicines and drugs may be charged as per actual usage with the maintenance of proper records and sharing of details on a daily basis with the patient party. Oxygen charges are to be borne by the patient.
CMHT cardholders are marginalized people who couldn’t afford hospital treatment charges.
After admission to the general ward, all the private hospital charges for doctor’s visit, PPE cost and others. This comes around 5000 to 6000 at some hospital. Under the CMHT, a sum of Rs. 3,800/- per day has to be borne by the government. Rs. 800/- is not enough for other treatments that the hospital usually provide.
Patient with ventilators are to be charged Rs. 8000/- as per the government rate. And under the CMHT person with ventilators are provided Rs. 5,600/- per day. Per day the patient had to spend Rs. 2,400/- per day. In addition, Oxygen cost per hour is Rs. 250/- in 24 hours it comes around Rs. 3,500/-. Covid treatment often takes over 7 days and sometimes 14 days due to the SOPs.
In the said condition, it is unlikely that CMHT cardholders will get any benefits from the CMHT instead they will be left with no choice but to sell their property or borrow money to pay the hospital bill.
Promises for free treatment of Covid patient at the empanelled private hospital are simply ‘a joke’ to fool the people for mere publicity, a patient party told Imphal Times.
