The move will push the costs in the range of 15% to 33% or more on services like pathology, doctor's consultation (at OPD/casualty) and hospitalisation. The hospital sees nearly 43,000 new patients from all over India and neighbouring countries annually, while about 1,000 cancer patients attend its outpatient department every day.
Cancer patients, particularly those registered in the private and semi-private category, will now have to shell out a considerably higher sum for availing health care services at facilities operated by the Tata Memorial Hospital in Mumbai.
Starting April 1, the management of India's leading cancer centre has hiked rates of its various services to partially offset the increase in the cost of consumables.
The move will push the costs in the range of 15% to 33% or more on services like pathology, doctor's consultation (at OPD/casualty) and hospitalisation. The hospital sees nearly 43,000 new patients from all over India and neighbouring countries annually, while about 1,000 cancer patients attend its outpatient department every day.
Confirming the development, a hospital spokesperson said the schedule of charges, available on their website https://tmc.gov.in, has been approved by their governing council. "The prices for our semi private category (B) have been revised by 15% and there is increase in other categories as per a prescribed formula."
The new rates will be applicable on facilities operated by Tata Memorial Centre – Tata Memorial Hospital at Parel and ACTREC at Kharghar in Navi Mumbai. While it is general perception that the Tata Medical Centre (TMC) in Kolkata is also operated by the management of Tata Memorial Centre, the hospital spokesperson said the Kolkata hospital is not part of Tata Memorial Centre management and hence the rate hike doesn't apply to it.
Doctor's consultation charges at the outpatient department (OPD) in the Homi Bhaba Block (HBB) has gone up 25% to Rs 500. The fees for second opinion consult referral has been increased from Rs1,000 to Rs1,500.
On pathology front, a combination of complete blood count and biochemistry (blood) tests – often required by patients for follow-up consultation – now costs Rs2,540 as compared to Rs2,210 earlier.
Elucidating the reasons for the upward revision, the spokesperson said the schedule of charges are revised every two years as a matter of policy to partially offset the increase in the cost of consumables. "While it's a bi-annual exercise, the last revision made by Tata Memorial Hospital was in April 2012 and before that in 2009."
The ratio between general and private category patients at the hospital is 60:40. And in terms of contribution of hospitals revenues, they primarily come from the private category patients and some percentage from the semi-private category.
"The hospital is running and sustaining only because of grants from the Government of India, Department of Atomic Energy. In fact, an earlier survey conducted by the hospital on the kind of incomes generated by the hospital indicated that the hospital earns only between 0.35 and 0.38 paise on every rupee," said the spokesperson.
As for the formula being adopted to compute rate increase for various category of patients, the spokesperson said, the rate applicable to C (chargeable) category patients is 20% of B category charges and for NC (non-chargeable) patients is 2% of B category charges. "The NC category patients are provided seed money to cover the expenses and they end up not paying out of pocket," said the spokesperson.
TMH facts
43,000 new patients visit TMH from India and neighbouring countries
1,000 attend OPD every day for medical advice, comprehensive care or for follow-up treatment
60% of patients receive primary care, of which around 70% are treated almost free of any charges
6,300 major operations done every year
6,000 patients receive radiotherapy/chemotherapy annually
Cancer care moves north
Category New rate (Rs) old rate (Rs)
OPD consultation at HBB 500 400
Second opinion consult referral 1,500 1,000
CBC and biochemistry tests 2,540 2,210
Induction chemo planning & delivery (in-patient) 30,000 - 58,600 25,000
For outpatients 23,000 - 44,930 20,000
Bed charges (main building) 2,250 - 10,000 xxxxxx
Room charges at HBB 5,500 4,800
Day-care (less than 4 hrs) 900 700
Day-care (over 4 hrs) 1,200 900
Consultation charge at 24x7 casualty ward 120-800
Patients who were earlier not charged for availing services like administering intramuscular injections will have to pay for the same now.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}