Bengaluru: On Friday, the state had capped the rates for high-resolution CT scan at Rs 1,500 and chest X-ray at Rs 250 in private hospitals. They assert that these prices fail to cover up their costs and patients may end up losers as doctors may not use tools for diagnosing.
HRCT scan and chest X-ray are diagnostic tools for viral infection in the lungs. The doctors are dependent upon the CT scans to confirm the infection, especially when a patient with severe symptoms of Covid-19 becomes negative in the RT PCR test. Presently, the cost of a CT scan is between Rs 5,000 and RS 8,000 and that of chest X-ray is between Rs 500 and Rs 800 depending on the hospitals.
But, private hospitals are of the view that it will be impossible to follow the new rule. Dr Prasanna HM, president of Private Hospitals and Nursing Homes Associations said, “These charges are impractical. The CT scan price has to be a minimum of Rs 4,000 which will be reasonable.”
“Rs 1,500 does not even cover working expenses. Everyone will stop doing CT scans and patients will be losers,” he said.
Health minister K Sudhakar said that everyone should follow the price cap. Jawaid Akhtar, additional chief secretary, in the circular said, “Some laboratories are charging exorbitant amounts for these tests, putting an unreasonable financial burden on Covid-19 patients.”
Consumables and sanitisation charges are included in the CT scan and X-ray prices. It is compulsory for all establishments that come under Karnataka Private Medical Establishment (KPME) Act to follow the price capping. Strict action will be taken against those who fail to follow the same as per provisions of the Karnataka Epidemic Diseases Act and KPME Act.
Another Phana member stated that hospitals have bought the equipment long ago and have got the profits. The member said, “Given the emergency, private hospitals must do it at the cost fixed by the government. Why is this seen as a matter of loss when we’re losing lives?”
Dr HM Venkatappa, chairman of Bangalore Diagnostics Centres Association said that the 128 Slice CT scanner which is a highly advanced machine, costs Rs 4.5 crore and the annual maintenance costs is up to Rs 1.5 crore.
He said, “It is very difficult to provide the CT scan at Rs 1,500. We don’t know what parameters the government has considered to cap the price at Rs 1,500 which is not even the cost of the film.” He also said that if the government continues with the cap, then the labs will have to cease the service. He is of the view that the demand for CT scans has risen to four times since the Covid cases started to increase in the city.
A radiologist said, “The government has failed to provide state-of-the-art infrastructure in public hospitals and is now ruining the system in private hospitals and labs by capping prices.”
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