GMC may charge non-Goan patients 30% of the rate under DDSSY

Panaji: Come December 1, the government is likely to start charging outstation patients for availing services at Goa Medical College (GMC) and hospital. However, fees will not be levied for emergency cases.

Dr S M Bandekar, medical superintendent, GMC told TOI that the committee has submitted its report to the government, suggesting that non-Goan patients be charged 30% of the rate applicable for intervention under the Deen Dayal Swasthya Seva Yojna (DDSSY). The rate chart, he said, "in all probability will come into force from December 1". The government's response in this regard is awaited, he added.

A month and half ago, the state government decided not extend free medical services to outstation patients at GMC. The decision was taken in a bid to reduce its medical expenses, as the state's premier government hospital is being burdened with patients pouring in from neighbouring districts of Maharashtra and Karnataka.

A committee headed by joint secretary health Sunil Masurkar was constituted to finalize the rates to be charged for non-Goan patients. As much as 447 interventions are covered under DDSSY, the universal medical scheme for Goans. In the initial stage, fees will be levied only for interventions covered under DDSSY, but subsequently, other treatments would also be covered, Dr Bandekar said.

Dr Bandekar said the rates notified under the Central Government health scheme (CGHS) could be made applicable for other interventions. "About 1,100 procedures are listed under CGHS," said Dr Bandekar, adding that the decision would be taken at a later stage. The committee would meet a month after GMC starts levying fees for outstation patients. "The committee will review the rates during that meeting," said Bandekar.

GMC's functioning is yet to be fully computerized, and it is not in a position to make all treatments payable for non-Goans. As it is being upgraded, it will take some time before the list of all medical services is synchronized with its computer system.

The list of DDSSY procedures was uploaded onto GMC's system a year ago when the universal medical insurance scheme was made applicable in GMC.

The government has include GMC and the two district hospitals under DDSSY inorder to generate revenue for these hospitals.

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