70% hospitals in Mumbai will join cashless fold: Gipsa

The General Insurance Public Sector Association (Gipsa) has claimed that 70% hospitals in the city are likely to join its ‘preferred provider network’ for the cashless mediclaim scheme in the coming months.

On Thursday, Jaslok Hospital joined the network with Gipsa, which is a group of four public sector insurance companies that earlier this year decided to restrict the cashless medical facilities to hospitals that agree to join its network.

“We are in negotiations with the Fortis Group, Bombay Hospital, and a few other hospitals. In a few months, 70% will be covered,” said Dr Mohammed Mukhtar, health strategist and manager of MD India Health Care Services.

Jaslok Hospital signed a memorandum of understanding with Gipsa on 43 packages offered by the hospital. “We are doing this for the patients and to lessen the inconvenience caused to them. This will also ensure total transparency on our part,” said Colonel M Masand, CEO of Jaslok Hospital. He added: “If anything exceeds the package, we will give proper justification for it.”

The packages are designed within the given parameters and defined limits. “We will accept a deviation of about 16% in any package. Beyond that, we will demand an explanation,” said Mukhtar.

So far, the count of hospitals on the cashless mediclaim network in Mumbai is 169, including major institutes such as Jupiter Hospital in Thane, MGM Vashi, Sterling Wockhardt in Vashi, Kohinoor Hospital in Kurla, SevenHills in Andheri, SR Mehta Cardiac Hospital at King’s Circle, and Joy Hospital in Chembur.