The Karnataka Congress demanded free treatment for all COVID-19 patients and standard treatment protocol for the pandemic across all hospitals in the state as it is feared that only the rich would get priority in treatment during the crisis.
"The ill-planned lockdown snatched the livelihood of people and inconvenienced them too. Now, the exorbitant cost of treatment at private hospitals, fixed by the state government, is daunting even to the middle class. If a family of 4-5 people contract the virus, they will end up spending Rs. 10-12 lakh. The government should provide free treatment and evolve a standard treatment protocol too. A task force should monitor the compliance to the protocol," said former chief minister Siddaramaiah.
KPCC chief D.K. Shivakumar, during a press meet in Bengaluru on Thursday, urged the state government not to discriminate among COVID patients. "Every patient should get free treatment as people are already facing severe financial crisis due to the pandemic. The COVID treatment cost fixed by the state government in private hospitals is not affordable," said the Congress leader, who also reminded the government that the previous Congress government had launched Arogya Karnataka and the Centre had come up with Ayushman Bharat to make healthcare affordable to all. But the government fixing the coronavirus treatment cost in private hospitals had defeated the purpose of these health insurance schemes, he added.
"The price cap for ICU beds without ventilator at private hospitals is fixed at Rs 8,500 per day and with ventilator is Rs 10,000 for patients recommended by the public health authorities. Patients directly approaching the private hospital need to pay Rs 25,000 per day for ICU with ventilator. The government is playing with the lives of the common man by fixing exorbitant amount for COVID treatment," said Shivakumar, and accused the government of failing to contain the virus.
"The poor are being punished for the government's own folly. The government failed to isolate international passengers. Everyone should get free treatment for COVID-19 at both the government and private hospitals," demanded Shivakumar, adding that the government had enough money to provide free treatment as the PM CARES and chief minister's relief fund had raised enough money from industrialists, MPs and the citizens.
The former minister also slammed the BJP government for creating an exclusive treatment facility for elected representatives and senior officials at the Kumara Krupa guest house saying, "The government should treat everyone equally. The common man should also get good facilities."
With the sudden spurt in COVID-19 cases in the state, the government designated the Suvarna Arogya Suraksha Trust (SAST) as the nodal agency to recommend the patient to private hospital after assessing the bed occupancy in the government hospitals.
As per the recent order, the COVID-19 patients referred to private hospitals by the public authorities will be treated for free as the government will bear that cost. The package rates have been fixed for the patients referred to private hospital by the Public Health Authorities—general ward (Rs 5,200 per day), HDU (Rs 7,000), Isolation ICU without ventilator (Rs 8,500) and isolation ICU with ventilator (Rs 10,000).
The price cap for COVID-19 patients directly admitted to the private hospitals and those making cash payment without Insurance is Rs 10,000 for general ward, Rs 12,000 for HDU, while Isolation ICU without ventilator is charged Rs 15,000 and ICU with ventilator is Rs 25,000.
However, private hospitals have not agreed to the package rates fixed by the government and have also refused to be enlisted as COVID-19 hospitals citing lack of infrastructure and expertise.
