Date:27/07/2007 URL: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2007/07/27/stories/2007072751592300.htm

Back Doctors’ body decries cut in CGHS tariff

Our Bureau

Hyderabad, July 26

Andhra Pradesh Speciality Hospitals Association is up in arms against the recent downward revision of Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS) tariffs and is planning to submit representation to the Union Ministry of Health.

“Recently, the Government had revised the CGHS tariffs with a 30 per cent decrease in the rates in force as per the 2002 revision,” Dr Ravindra Rao, core committee member of the association, told newspersons here on Thursday.

As per the revised tariffs, a super speciality doctor and a doctor would get a consultation fee of Rs 60 and Rs 30, respectively, on the first visit of the patient.

“The tariff has been lowered to Rs 15 for the second visit. The doctors in all the corporate hospitals in the State and other parts of the country were shocked by the development,” he said.

Many hospitals were not willing to sign on the CGHS undertakings in view of the ‘disappointing’ tariff, he added.

Dr Srinivas from Medwin Hospital said the lowering of the tariffs was “unjust at a time when the cost of the health care inputs, including disposables, are shooting up.”

Billing irregularities

On the alleged irregularities by some hospitals in billing as per CGHS scheme, Dr Rao said the association would work towards ensuring transparency in CGHS procedures. “Finer modalities like supervision of CGHS procedures by a medical board with members such as retired judges can be done. But first, we want the lower tariffs to go,” he added.