Shimla, Mar 31 (PTI) Robotic surgery will not be included in the Ayushman Bharat or Himcare schemes in Himachal Pradesh for the time being, Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu said on Tuesday.
Sukhu told the Vidhan Sabha that the state government would first complete development of robotic surgery infrastructure, and once it becomes fully operational and more affordable, it will be incorporated into schemes like Himcare, thereby enabling even the underprivileged to benefit from robotic surgery.
He said the government is currently conducting an internal audit of the Himachal Health Care Scheme, or Himcare.
Currently, a Rs 1 lakh fee is being charged for robotic surgery from patients who opt for treatment in special wards. For other patients, the government provides a subsidy of up to Rs 70,000, meaning they are charged only Rs 30,000.
In response to a question raised by MLA Rakesh Jamwal, the chief minister said the government had initially floated a tender to procure only two robotic machines, but later two more machines were purchased under the same tender.
He said these robotic machines were acquired for Rs 27-28 crore. The government had intended to purchase a similar robotic system for Solan as well, but the concerned company declined to supply the machine, citing an increase in its current market price, he added.
Sukhu said the state government procured these robotic machines for Rs 1 crore less than the price at which the AIIMS hospital had purchased them.
Responding to a supplementary question from MLA Vipin Singh Parmar, the chief minister said that two companies had submitted bids for the project.
The government extended the deadline for tender applications on three separate occasions.
Sukhu emphasised that providing superior healthcare facilities to patients remains a top priority for the government.
The company from which the government purchased the equipment is also providing training to the doctors and paramedical staff. Furthermore, this same company will be responsible for the maintenance of these robotic machines for the next five years.
To date, 20 doctors, 10 operating theatre technicians and nursing staff members have been trained and the government will also consider sending doctors on exposure visits in the near future, he added.
Leader of the Opposition Jai Ram Thakur urged the government to include robotic surgery under the ambit of the Ayushman and Himcare schemes. He argued that the exclusion of robotic surgery from these schemes implies that common patients cannot access treatment through this method.