Dialysis treatment reimbursement rates getting reduced? It seems so! The State government has decided to slash these rates for dialysis treatment. But why did the officials connected with the Apollo Victor Hospital, Margao call the move an ulterior motive?
Reimbursement rates slashed
The sudden move of cutting down the reimbursement rates has raised the shackles of many. The officials at the Apollo Victor Hospital, Margao speculate that this move may be a result of some “ulterior motives”.
The hospital Management had decided to shut down the dialysis unit at the hospital, because the reimbursement reduction was carried out but was “very vague and had no basis”. The Management surprised all when it admitted that it took care of almost 60% of the total load of dialysis patients from the whole of Goa.
In a press conference held at Panaji in Goa V M Albuquerque, managing director, Apollo Victor Hospitals, stated “On July 27, we got word that our hospital was now accredited by the government to provide dialysis at the reduced rates. The directorate of health services (DHS) has not intimated us at all in this regard. Besides, where was the need to accredit, when we have been accredited and have been paid 1,500 (per dialysis) for the last seven years?”
Hospital authorities miffed
The Government order written down on the July 23rd was received by the Apollo Victor Hospital, Margao on the July 31 and it highlighted the rate reduction.
Albuquerque commented that the State had no specifications for this treatment. He also said that the DHS should have laid down the specifications on the service quality that needs to be rendered instead of this step. Is this a novel way to enhance the rates of the dialysis treatment?
Well, this is exactly what Albuquerque fears! He speculated that this step may be taken in order to give some other players a backdoor entry into the field of dialysis and thereby surge the prices of the treatment in the long run.
Albuquerque emotively mentioned “Is the new player going to provide similar services as Apollo? Where is the assurance?”
There are other hospitals rendering dialysis treatment at lesser costs but he felt considering the rising prices of commodities and superior treatment quality this reduction was quite unfair.
Demanding a clarification from the DHS regarding the reduction of the price of treatment from Rs. 1500 to Rs. 1300 the hospital has decided to put a close on the dialysis unit meant for the Mediclaim patients.
