PANJIM: Terming it a win-win situation for both states, Health Minister Vishwajit Rane on Thursday said Goa stands to earn Rs 12 cr annually from the pact with Maharashtra on health care.
On Wednesday, after a meeting with Rane, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis announced on social media that Maharashtra will empanel Goa Medical College and the North District Hospital under their Health Insurance Scheme to provide relief to residents of the State.
Goa has been charging non-Goan patients being treated at State-run facilities, which led to large scale protests from people in districts such as Sindhudurg and Ratnagiri.
“Maharashtra CM agreed to empanel GMC and North Goa district hospital part of their Mahatma Jyotiba Phule Jan Aarogya Yojna (MJPJAY), the state run medical insurance scheme,” Rane said.
Rane said that Fadnavis has directed his officials set up counters at these facilities so that patients coming from the neighbouring State, especially from Sindhudurg, can avail treatment under this scheme.
“It will be win-win situation for both as GMC will earn about Rs 12 cr annually as the rates under MJPJAY are higher than the DDSSY,” Rane said. He added that the facility for the patients from Maharashtra would be set up within seven days.
Giving further details Rane said that there are about 2500 to 3000 patients monthly from Maharashtra taking treatment in Goa. “In first two months itself (up to February 28) we have earned about Rs 1.26 cr and if this trend continues we will get at least Rs 12 cr annually,” he said.
Rane further stated that Paramount is the TPA for the Maharashtra government insurance scheme and also for the Goa government and hence there would be no problems in implementing the scheme.
“The money earned can be used for better treatment and facilities of Goans like more doctors, more ICUs, better facilities,” he said. He added that by Monday the counter would be set up at GMC and TPA staff will handle cases of Maharashtra patients and inform GMC.
