“Ceiling on Rates of Surgeries and Room Rent in Hospitals be revised urgently”

Kolkata, Dec.10. An interesting Interactive session on Health Care and Health Insurance was organized by city- based NGO Concern for Calcutta together with Calcutta Citizens’ Initiative Friday at Saturday Club. Dr. Purnendu Roy a well known surgeon for Gall blader surgery by laparoscopic and founder of Genesis Hospital deliberated on ways and means to bring about a balance in life of people suffering from life -style diseases such as Diabetics and hypertension. “India is diabetics capital of the globe and people are suffering because of stress and anxiety and in the process losing the balance of life”.

Shaonli Kar, vice president of HDFC-ERGO emhasised the need for medical insurance for combating medical emergency and she highlighted various user- friendly policies offered by HDFC-ERGO with cashless treatment facility without formality of TPA.

Social Activist Narayan Jain, President, Calcutta Citizens Initiative pointed out that PSU Insurers like New India Assurance, National Insurance, United India Insurance and Oriental Insurance Co. have an agreement with a number of Third Party Administrators(TPA). The drawback is that such TPAs have agreement Preferred Provider Network (PPN) agreement and the rates of Surgeries are negotiated by these TPAs with the Hospitals. Dr Roy said that such rates are very unrealistic and have not been revised for last 15 years though the cost of treatment has gone upwards at a pace of around 14% per year. Jain demanded that limit of 1% of sum assured for Room Rent in case of PSUs is quite Insufficient and be revised to at least 2 per cent of sum assured.

KS Adhikari President Concern for Calcutta in his welcome note highlighted the need for happy and healthy life for all. Past president BG Roy moderated the programme very well and introduced the guest speakers.

Sohanraj Singhvi, Arnab Sen, Ramesh Mahajan, Joeeta Basu, Heena Gorsia asked questions which Dr Purnendu Roy, Shaonli Kar and Pooja Mohta answered with great clarity. Rajendra Khandelwal, Consul of Niger, Olivia Dunlop (Director Genesis Hospital), Saikat Chaudhury, OP Jhunjhunwala, Soma Roy, Udit Mahajan, Mahesh Shah, Bibhas Maity, K.C. Tewary, Pawan Paharia, Rajendra Bardia, KN Gupta & others actively participated. Ashok Purohit, Secretary of Concern for Calcutta thanked all.