Less than 10% private hospitals keen to partner with govt on KASP healthcare scheme

• Only 8% of private hospitals are willing to be a part of the state-sponsored scheme for Covid patients.
• Kerala government has also fixed hospital rates to make healthcare accessible during the pandemic. 
• The 108 private hospitals under KASP have earmarked 5,666 beds, 457 ICU beds and 171 ventilators for Covid patients.

THD NewsDesk, Kerala: A recent government report on KASP healthcare scheme for the benefit of Covid-19 patients indicates that few private hospitals wish to partner with the Kerala state government. The report shows that out of 1,286, only 108 of the total number of private hospitals in Kerala are willing to provide treatment to corona patients.

KASP is an example of a private-public partnership scheme started by the Kerala government. Under the KASP scheme, roundabout 19 lakh families are assumed to benefit from the Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY) scheme. Along with the 21.8 lakh families covered under PM-JAY, the state government will sponsor the Covid treatment 19 lakh more families that are eligible for availing the scheme.

The government has also fixed the hospital rates to make healthcare affordable for the lesser privileged. The per-day costs for hospital beds are:

• In a general ward, the price is Rs 2,300
• In a High Dependency Unit, it is Rs 3,300
• In an ICU without a ventilator, it is Rs 6,500
• In an ICU with a ventilator, the cost is Rs 11,500

Moreover, the cost of PPE cost has also been fixed at Rs 1,000/unit with a maximum claim limit of Rs 1 lakh/case.

“Low treatment rates under the scheme and poor governance in terms of delay in payment to hospitals and rejection of claims is a concern for us,” said KIMS Health chairman and Association of Healthcare Providers India (Kerala Chapter) president Dr M I Sahadulla.

Further, the AHPI has been at the forefront of initiating talks with the state and central governments over improving the rates at hospitals. Though AHPI is keen to include the private sector in the negotiation as well, even in districts where the government healthcare system is not so strong the private healthcare sector has shied away from being a part of the scheme. 

Out of the 215 private hospitals, only ten have agreed on providing Covid treatment even as the cases in Kerala surge. 

“Most of us have adopted a wait and watch approach. Once a hospital starts Covid treatment, the expenditure also increases, and there is also a drop in non-Covid patients,” added Kerala Private Hospital Association former President Dr Mohamed Rasheed.

In the Ernakulam district, 20 out of the 138 private hospitals have agreed to provide Covid treatment under KASP. Whereas there are only three private hospitals in Pathanamthitta and 1 in Wayanad and Kasaragod have exhibited an interest in partnering with the government.

Additionally, the 108 private hospitals, who are a part of the KASP scheme have reserved 5,666 beds, 457 ICU beds and 171 ventilators for Covid patients admitted under the plan.

Source: ET Healthworld