The Delhi Government has tied up with 48 top private hospitals across the national Capital to provide 52 free surgeries to the residents of Delhi, seeking treatment at the city’s Government hospitals.
Any Delhiite referred by the Delhi Government hospitals could freely get admitted at these high-end private hospitals: Medanta, The Medicity, Max Super Speciality Hospital- Shalimar Bagh and other healthcare chains, including the Park Hospitals, Metro Hospitals, Kailash Hospital, Bhagwati Hospital, Saroj Hospital, Asian, Yashoda Hospitals and Maharaja Agrasen Hospital.
A total of 52 types of surgeries have been identified by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) led Government which is already gaining appreciation for its populist measures in healthcare facilities like the introduction of Mohalla Clinics and Polyclinics.
“Surgeries identified are as small as a cataract surgery, prostrates and as big as a cardiac bypass surgery... no hospital can refuse the patient sent by the Delhi Government hospital,” a senior Delhi Government official told The Pioneer.
A total of 48 hospitals, including all the branches of the multi-speciality hospitals listed above have been forwarded to the 24 Delhi Government hospitals.
However, the conditions have been set up clearly for those referred for free treatment at these hospitals. “If the Government hospital is not able to conduct the surgery on time and the waiting period for the surgery is a month, the doctor is free to take the call and forward the case to any of the private hospitals from the list,” he added.
The Government will reimburse these National Accreditation Board for Hospitals (NABH) and Healthcare Providers-accredited hospitals at Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS) rates for the complete treatment. It will include pre-operation consultation, surgery, medicines, food, hospital stay and follow-ups after discharge.
The patients would have to provide a “proof of identity” to receive this service.
“The main condition is that the patient has to be a bonafide resident of Delhi. They have to provide a proof of identity which could be an Adhaar card, Passport, Driving licence, Ration card of the head of the family while for a new born, a birth certificate and the documents of the parents would be needed to prove that the patient is eligible for the surgery,” said sources.
The Delhi Government has 30 hospitals. Out of which five are society hospitals and a maternity hospital which have been excluded from this scheme. Only the 24 have the orders of the Government.
The measure could reduce the load of the over-crowded Government hospitals of the city and also ensure a better healthcare facility within the Government hospitals, said a Delhi Government doctor. “The patients in Government hospitals have to wait anywhere between three months to more than a year to get surgeries done.”
Earlier this month, the Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia had announced in his Budget speech that the Delhi Government in partnership with 41 private sector hospitals having NABH accreditation has taken a historical step to deliver the quality treatment in 30 critical and life saving surgeries.
But the Government after consultations and further engagement have increased the number of surgeries to 52 at 48 private hospitals as mentioned above have been added.
Sisodia, who also holds the Finance portfolio, had proposed a total expenditure of `5736 crore on Health in 2017-18 which included a revenue Budget of `5048 crore and capital Budget of `688 crore.
“An amount of `2627 crore is earmarked for implementation of various schemes, programmes and projects under Health sector”, the Deputy Chief Minister had declared during his budget speech.