STAFF REPORTER
GUWAHATI: In a decision that will come as a relief for many, the Assam Government has fixed the rates for COVID-19 treatment in the private hospitals in the State, State Health Minister Keshab Mahanta said on Friday.
Sharing details of the rates of beds in super speciality and non-super speciality (general) hospitals with the media, Mahanta said, "The decision was taken after a meeting with Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma. The rates have been fixed after due consultation with the private hospitals and reviewing the rates of private hospitals in a few other across".
A bed in the general ward of a super speciality hospital would cost a patient Rs 5,000 per day, a shared cabin would cost Rs 6,500 a day, an ICU bed without a ventilator would cost Rs 10,000 a day and an ICU bed with a ventilator would cost Rs 15,000 a day.
In other than super speciality hospitals, a bed in a general ward would cost Rs 4,000 per day, a shared cabin would cost Rs 5,000 a day, an ICU bed without a ventilator would cost Rs 9,000 a day and an ICU bed with a ventilator would cost Rs 12,000 a day. The Minister, however, clarified that the rates fixed are at their upper ceilings.
The rates for both the categories are inclusive of registration charges, bed boarding including food, nursing and consultant charges. Consultation charges for RMO, MD, Anaesthetists, Surgeon, blood transfusions, oxygen chargers, medicine and drugs for treatment protocol, radiology and pathology test charges, medical procedures like essential radiological imaging and diagnostic tests like X-ray, USG, haematology, pathology, BMW (including sanitization), PPE kits and N-95 masks.
The rates do not include high-end investigations like CT Chest/HRCT Chest/DI dimer, high-end medicines like Remdesivir, Tocilizumubab, treatment and diagnosis procedures related to any co-morbid conditions.
The minister said that in case any private hospital violates these rates, action will be taken as per law.
The minister further said that the government would provide interest-free loans to private hospitals to procure COVID vaccines. The Central Government will allow 25 per cent of COVID-19 vaccines to private hospitals. The hospitals will have to return the amount on or before three months of getting the interest-free loan.
Asked if the State government would fix the rates of vaccines as well in the private hospitals, the minister said that that will be decided after the hospitals procure the vaccines.
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