Supreme Court suggests cheaper treatment for COVID-19 in smaller towns

Supreme Court Wednesday suggested that re should be cheaper treatment for COVID-19 infected patients in smaller towns and asked Centre to consider aspect of prompt release of claims by insurance companies which cant keep ir hands off at time of pandemic.

apex court was told by Centre that health is a state subject and primary responsibility in terms of manment of COVID-19 rests with states.

In a report filed in top court, Centre proposed that states "may on a priority basis arrive at fair rates for private hospitals to ensure that re is over-charging from COVID-19 patients or indiscriminate hikes for patients".

A bench headed by Chief Justice S A Bobde, which was hearing pleas including one filed by advocate Sachin Jain who has sought direction for regulating cost of treatment of COVID-19 at private hospitals across country, suggested that re should be cheaper treatment for coronavirus infected patients in smaller towns.

top court made suggestion after counsel appearing for private hospitals said that uniform price capping may t be feasible as it may vary in big and smaller cities.

bench, also comprising Justices A S Bopanna and V Ramasubramanian, observed that insurance companies cant keep ir hands off at time of pandemic and government should consider aspect of prompt release of dues by m.

bench was told by an advocate appearing for private hospitals that price capping for COVID-19 treatment should t be made applicable in cases of co-morbidities.

apex court has posted matter for furr hearing after 15 days.

Centre, in its report filed in apex court, has said that depending on number of cases and availability of health infrastructure in government set-up, states may consider exploring utilizing health facilities available in private sector to augment available public health infrastructure for COVID-19.

It said that many states have also fixed rates for treatment of COVID-19 and communicated same to private hospitals.

" Ministry of Health and Family Welfare is of view that while decision for utilizing services of private sector rests with states, a rmative guideline may be provided to states to facilitate m for arriving at reasonable rates for private hospitals to undertake COVID-19 treatment," it said, while proposing guiding principles in this regard.

It said that states may arrive at rates for COVID-19 treatment after appropriate consultation with stakeholders.

"States may consider Ayushman Bharat-PMJAY and/or CGHS rates as benchmark basic rates. Certain states have already fixed rates for COVID-19 treatment in private hospitals in ir states. criteria adopted by those states may also be examined by or states in ir own context," it said.

It furr said that costing may consider parameters like categorization of hospitals, illness, beds, tier wise categorization of cities and hospitals and cost "ideally" should be all inclusive.

It said that COVID-19 treatment should be based on standard treatment protocols and on rational use of PPEs, as issued and circulated by ministry, and states should set up a mechanism where such fair rates are given wide publicity and where grievances regarding overcharging can be redressed within fixed timeline.

Centre also proposed that states should set up oversight mechanisms for monitoring and enforcement of rates and shall ensure that treatment rates so finalized be widely disseminated t only at state headquarters level but also at district and sub-district level making full use of media.

" rates so fixed can be reviewed from time to time, keeping in view possibility of reduction in costs of drugs, consumables and evolving clinical manment protocols," it said.

Centre informed bench that as per court's direction, it had accorded personal hearing to all parties, including petitioner Jain, on July 16 and issue was deliberated upon.

top court had last month said that one should be turned away from hospital due to higher cost of treatment.

It had asked government to consider framing guideline on issue of cost of treatment for COVID-19 infection.

In June, apex court had asked private hospitals wher y were ready to provide treatment to COVID-19 infected patients at charges prescribed under government's Ayushman Bharat Scheme.

'Ayushman Bharat – Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana' is aimed at providing health cover to poor and vulnerable persons in country.

In its affidavit filed earlier in top court, Centre had said, "It is refore submitted that Central Government, within its statutory powers or powers of delegated legislation, cant make this particular bifurcation for lack of a requisite statutory framework for said classification".

It had said that entire health infrastructure has been brought to most appropriate use for treatment of COVID-19 in country and Centre has taken several measures to strengn public health facilities where medical care is provided free of cost to all patients.

" care cost in private sector is t regulated by Central Government," affidavit had said.

(Photo Credit: PTI)