Cardiologists from government and private hospitals have asked authorities of Rajiv Gandhi Jeevandayee Arogya Yojna (RGJAY) to revise the package to conduct angioplasty at the earliest, as the current package under the government insurance scheme does not get the insurer the best stent.
In a meeting on September 6, the heads of the cardiology department of a major civic hospital and JJ Hospital asked for the revision of the Rs300-crore free health insurance scheme, which was launched in eight districts of the state in July.
“The scheme offers Rs60,000 to clear a blockage. We do not include the doctor’s fee, hospitalisation charges and other equipment in our procedure. We use the cheapest possible stent. But in private hospitals, this is impossible as the stents alone cost more than Rs65,000,” said a head of the cardiology department of a civic hospital. Doctors are, therefore, forced to use non-medicated stents.
Cardiologists also requested that charity donations be allowed in case the cost of the surgery exceeds the package limit.
Dr Sanjay Rajdev, head of the cardiology department of SevenHills Hospital, said, “Authorities have to revise the remunerations provided under the RGJAY not just for angioplasty, but for other procedures like balloon mitral valvotomy as well.”
K Venkatesh, who heads the RGJAY programme in the state, ruled out revising the rates of surgical procedures any time soon.
