PPP mode in govt hospitals draws flak
Jun 15, 2015, 12.53 AM IST, SourceVISAKHAPATNAM: Government doctors have expressed their dissatisfaction at the possibility of a public private partnership (PPP) in conducting procedures and operations in state-run hospitals. Doctors in government hospitals believe that with capable surgeons around, the government is not in the need of such pacts.
The PPP model was first initiated in the Guntur Government Hospital (GGH), where private hospital doctors carried out complex cardiac procedures. King George Hospital (KGH) in Visakhapatnam is also set to sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with some private hospitals to rope in cardiac surgeons and technicians for complex cardiothorasic surgeries, including open heart surgeries such as valve replacement and bypass.
The cardiothorasic department at KGH had stopped functioning a few years ago after the only surgeon it had was transferred to Kurnool Government Hospital. The doctor was himself unable to function due to the lack of the main equipment â heart-lung machine. Patients requiring complex open heart surgeries had to be referred to corporate hospitals under Arogyasri (now called NTR Vaidya Seva scheme). The machine was repaired only after the talks of PPP mode was initiated by the hospital.
"What was required under the scenario was recruiting permanent doctors for the department and provide them with the equipment. If the government could repair the equipment worth around Rs 50 lakh after talks started regarding PPP mode with a private hospital, they could as well have done so earlier ad provided the necessary infrastructure for carrying out procedures to their own doctor," averred a senior government doctor.
"The private hospital also send doctors for their own publicity as it is prestigious to be associated with a government set-up. After a few months, some doctors stop coming regularly or may simply turn out cases stating they are not suitable for operations. Further, private doctors get about 35% of the total procedure cost as decided by the NTR Vaidya Seva per case," a senior surgeon said.
According to hospital sources, it's often a doctor or private healthcare institute having close rapport with politicians or health ministry are given the chance to operate in government hospitals.
The PPP model was first initiated in the Guntur Government Hospital (GGH), where private hospital doctors carried out complex cardiac procedures. King George Hospital (KGH) in Visakhapatnam is also set to sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with some private hospitals to rope in cardiac surgeons and technicians for complex cardiothorasic surgeries, including open heart surgeries such as valve replacement and bypass.
The cardiothorasic department at KGH had stopped functioning a few years ago after the only surgeon it had was transferred to Kurnool Government Hospital. The doctor was himself unable to function due to the lack of the main equipment â heart-lung machine. Patients requiring complex open heart surgeries had to be referred to corporate hospitals under Arogyasri (now called NTR Vaidya Seva scheme). The machine was repaired only after the talks of PPP mode was initiated by the hospital.
"What was required under the scenario was recruiting permanent doctors for the department and provide them with the equipment. If the government could repair the equipment worth around Rs 50 lakh after talks started regarding PPP mode with a private hospital, they could as well have done so earlier ad provided the necessary infrastructure for carrying out procedures to their own doctor," averred a senior government doctor.
"The private hospital also send doctors for their own publicity as it is prestigious to be associated with a government set-up. After a few months, some doctors stop coming regularly or may simply turn out cases stating they are not suitable for operations. Further, private doctors get about 35% of the total procedure cost as decided by the NTR Vaidya Seva per case," a senior surgeon said.
According to hospital sources, it's often a doctor or private healthcare institute having close rapport with politicians or health ministry are given the chance to operate in government hospitals.