There are a lot of health schemes, the benefits of which are availed by poor and needy, especially people in low income group, less by Government hospitals and more by private players. But now, Maharashtra’s Public Health Department (PHD) has decided to utilise that fund for its own hospitals adopting the Tamil Nadu model. Maharashtra’s Public Health Minister Prakash Abitkar told ‘The Hitavada’ on Thursday at Nagpur, “We give incentives to the medicos to the tune of 15% for rendering services to Government hospitals under various health schemes. But there is a cap as they don’t get the incentive after certain cases.

 

In Tamil Nadu, 20% incentives are given to medicos without any cap. People there see to it that cases are not refereed to private hospitals. Considering this aspect, we have decided to remove the cap so that 60% amount is received by Government hospitals.” Abitkar was in Nagpur to inaugurate the project ‘My Village, My healthy Village’ held at AIIMS. The Public Health Department is also planning to design certain procedures under health schemes only in Government hospitals. Now, insurance companies play no role as Central Government shares 60% and State gives 40% money. The minister also mentioned recent steps to tighten the scheme’s implementation, including settling claims within the same month and revising treatment package rates. The Public Health Department of Maharashtra Government has given a major relief to the poor and needy as it has decided to bring the major procedures costing upto Rs 22 lakh under this scheme and raised the coverage of the healthcare procedures of MPJAY from 1,256 to 2,399. The department has increased the amount of the treatment to Rs 5 lakh.

 

The procedures like various organ transplants like lung, liver, heart cost upto Rs 20 lakh or more. Considering this aspect, we have decided to provide such costly treatment for free to the patients. Existing ambulances popularly known by 108 are not in a proper condition. There are over 500 such ambulances in Maharashtra majority of which are not running. Revealing the plan, Abitkar said, “We have planned to buy about 1,756 well-equipped ambulances. We will place those ambulances at certain places. For example, black spots witness more accidents where it becomes necessary for the ambulance to reach, we will place the ambulance there. Whenever any patient is carried by it, the advanced equipment in it will simultaneously start treatment.

 

It will have advanced diagnostic tools and will be able to send the reports to the doctor concerned,” Abitkar made it clear. The team inside ambulance will get instructions on the basis of the diagnosis done by the doctor in hospital. This will enhance the healthcare treatment. Since the patient will start receiving treatment in the ambulance itself, chances of recovery will be more.” On several occasions, low quality drugs are procured by the department for reasons best known to them. It is very difficult to identify them. Abitkar has decided to introduce the drug detection system by which the medicines will be checked. The tenders are being floated for the same, informed Abitkar.