Communalism or somebody not ‘taken care’ of: Victor
TEAM HERALD
teamherald@herald-goa.com
PANJIM: Managing Director of Victor Hospitals and Medical Services Victor Albuquerque said there are suspected communal motives behind the government’s decision to revise the reimbursements given to hospitals under the Mediclaim Scheme, reducing it from Rs 1,500 per visit to Rs 1,300.
A furious Albuquerque said that at the reduced rate it would not be feasible to continue offering treatment to patients under the scheme, when the reimbursements are going to be reduced. He suspected a business conspiracy behind the move to reduce the rates.
In a letter sent to the government earlier he alleged, “After having given a great thought to the state of affairs and the treatment you have been giving us, we are pained to inform you that we suspect, repeat suspect, that there is either COMMUNALISM (emphasis original) or that somebody has not been ‘taken care’ of, as otherwise the way things have unfolded cannot be understood.”
“Undoubtedly, you may be getting lower rates from other hospitals and other centres, but certainly you cannot compare apples with tomatoes and whether any other centre provides you (care) at a lower rate it is their problem and not ours. For us to provide the services we need a minimum of Rs 1500 per dialysis,” Albuquerque said, on Wednesday.
He said he has been providing dialysis under the mediclaim scheme over the last seven years with the government reimbursing them Rs 1500 per visit of dialysis under the Mediclaim Scheme. The government’s sudden decision to reduce the reimbursement rate to Rs 1300 per dialysis without informing the hospital is designed to put him out of business, Albuquerque claims.
“Considering the reasoning given by the government that the other hospitals including Hospicio (which has been outsourced to a private player) are charging Rs 1300 that does not mean that Apollo should charge the same. One should understand that the quality of services rendered by Apollo is far superior than anyone else,” Albuquerque said.
“Is it an opportunity given to another players to enter through the backdoor and thereafter enhance the rates?” Albuquerque questioned.
“Even if the government wants to pay reduced rates, are there specifications laid down by the government on the minimum facilities that should be offered by the establishment?” the MD of Victor Hospitals asked.
“We are not interested in providing Mediclaim services at our hospital at Rs 1300 as we are running heavy losses to provide first class services and we cannot lower ourselves,” Albuquerque declared.
