The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Hyderabad News : Stress on revamp of healthcare sector

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Apr 18, 2007
ePaper

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

Stress on revamp of healthcare sector

Special Correspondent

25 p.c. of patients coming to hospitals like Care cannot afford the treatment

HYDERABAD: Chairman and Managing Director of Care Hospitals B. Soma Raju has called for a debate on helping poor and needy patients, for reworking of State policies and sensitising the bureaucracy.

Addressing a press conference here on Tuesday, Dr. Raju and his doctor colleagues explained how the Care Hospitals performed a complicated surgery on one Rama Rao of Venkatapuram village of Darsi mandal in Prakasam district.

Medical Director of the hospital A. Rajagopala Raju said that the expenditure for operation and hospital stay came to Rs. 4.42 lakhs of which the hospital bore Rs.3.72 lakhs. The balance amount came in the form of donations. Cardio-thoracic surgeons G. Ramasubramanyam and Nitin Rao explained the complications involved in the surgery and how a pacemaker was fixed to the patient.

Surgery

Dr. Soma Raju said that though the surgery was not very common, it wasn't uncommon either. However, the cost factor was quite alarming.

The hospital itself was treating poor patients free of cost incurring almost Rs. 50 lakhs every month. "Though we offer free treatment, We need to pay the luxury tax for keeping the patient in the ICU. The Government should seriously consider reworking of various policies relating to healthcare sector, taxation, etc," he said.

Treatment

He said philanthropists should come forward in a big way to help the poor and the needy, since 20 to 25 per cent of patients coming to Care Hospitals could not afford the treatment, but they could not be turned away.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Andhra Pradesh