Bhubaneswar: AMRI Hospital, Bhubaneswar signed Memorandum of Understanding under Odisha State Treatment Fund Society (OSTFS) with Government of Odisha. Director Medical Education & Training, Odisha Prof(Dr) Prakash Mohapatra , Member Secretary, OSTFS on behalf of the Government and Dr Salil kumar Mohanty , Vice-President & Unit Head, AMRI Hospital signed the MoU in presence of Hon’ble Minister Health & FW, Public Enterprises & Finance Pradip kumar Amat , Commissioner-cum-Secretary, H & FW Department Dr Pramod kumar Meherda and other senior officers from H & FW Department . AMRI Hospital happened to be 25th private hospital to sign MoU with State Government under OSTF. Earlier in July, 2013, the State Government signed MoU under OSTF with 14 private hospitals inside the State, in September, 2013 with 3 hospitals in Vishakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh and 3 Hospitals in Raipur, Chhatishgarh and in April, 2016 with 3 private cancers hospitals within the State and one Cancer Hospital in Vishakhapatnam, AP.
Cashless treatment in Government health institutions under different schemes for treatment of certain diseases, disorders and medical services like RNTCP, NLEP, JSSY, RBSK etc are available in the State. But direct public financing for treatment of some life threatening diseases and disorders for certain weaker sections of the society in certain accredited private hospitals and Government hospitals are now available under Rastriya Swyasthya Bima Yojana (RSBY), Biju Krushak Kalyan Yojana (BKKY) and Odisha State Treatment Fund Society (OSTF). While RSBY and BKKY are two health insurance schemes, OSTF is an assurance scheme. All these flagship schemes taken together are taking care of the entire healthcare needs of patients belonging to financial weaker section of the society in the State. Treatments not covered under any other above schemes for the eligible patients are being taken care by OSTF. Treatment for high-ended diseases like bypass heart surgery, use of pacemakers, kidney transplantation, regular dialysis, burn and plastic surgery treatment, blood cancer, bone marrow transplantation are being looked after under OSTF.
Every year more than 10,000 patients are being treated under OSTF in Government Hospital while about 1,200 major surgeries and treatments are being provided through a network of empanelled private hospitals under OSTF. The annual grant for treatment of patients under OSTF for the current year is Rs.60.00 crores.
All BPL, AAY, RSBY card holders and patients with annual income not exceeding Rs.50,000/- in rural areas and Rs. 60,000/- in urban areas are now eligible for treatment under OSTF. Unknown accident victim /patients referred from registered destitute home/orphanage / mental asylum are also eligible for assistance under the scheme.
Treatment under OSTF is available in all 30 DHHs of the State and other 7 seven state level hospitals in the State like SCB MCH, Cuttack, VSSIMSAR, Burla, MKCG, Berhampur, Sishu Bhawan, Cuttack, AHRCC, Cuttack, RGH Rourkela and Capital Hospital, Bhubaneswar. In case of non-availability of requirement treatment in those hospitals or for the reasons of inordinate delay in providing treatment to the eligible patients, powers have been given to Superintendent SCB MCH, Cuttack, VSSIMSAR Burla, MKCG Berhampur to refer any patient to any private empanelled hospital inside or outside the State. Director, AHRCC, Cuttack is empowered to refer any patient to any empanelled private cancer hospital within or outside the State. CDMOs Nawarangpur, Koraput, Rayagada and Malkanagiri can refer any patient from respective DHHs to any empanelled private hospitals in Vishakhapatnam. Similarly CDMOs of Kalahandi, Bolangir and Nuapada are empowered to refer any patient from respective DHHs to any empanelled private hospitals in Raipur. CDMOs CDMOs of Kalahandi, Rayagada,Koraput, Malkanagir and Nawarangpur are also authorised to refer any patient from respective DHHs to Christian Hospital Bisamakatak, Rayagada or Christian Hospital, Nawarangpur.
However in acute emergency like cardiac arrest, stroke, road accident or illness a patient may get himself admitted in the empanelled private hospital without being referred. In that situation, the Medical Superintendent / authorized official of the empanelled private hospital will intimate details of circumstances of such admission to DMET, Odisha –cum- Member Secretary, OSTF within 24 hours of admission of the patient in the hospital. On being satisfied that the condition of the patient really required immediate treatment, DMET, Odisha –cum- Member Secretary, OSTF may allow the case for treatment under OSTF.
Treatment bills under OSTF in case of private empanelled hospitals are paid directly by Member Secretary, OSTF to the concerned hospital while all expenditures for treatment of patients under OSTF in Government hospitals are met out of the available fund in the Government hospital under OSTF. The patient does not pay anything to the hospital for his/her treatment. There is big challenges to the Government ahead for treatment of patients under OSTF in view of increase in number of patients suffering from diseases in cardiac, cancer, renal, diabetes, accident victims etc where the treatment cost is very high.
-By OdishaAge
