The average claimed amount in circulatory ailments — diseases of the cardiovascular system — has increased by at least Rs2 lakh, from Rs1,53,349 to Rs3,56, 505, according to the Insurance Information Bureau.
Amid the din over escalating prices all around, the rising cost of mending a damaged heart has not received the attention it merits.
Here’s data that will make you miss a few heart beats.
The cost of treating an ailing heart has more than doubled in the last three years. The average claimed amount in circulatory ailments — diseases of the cardiovascular system — has increased by at least Rs2 lakh, from Rs1,53,349 to Rs3,56, 505, according to the Insurance Information Bureau (IIB).
IIB’s data says the treatment charges for such diseases have inflated by 132.47% since 2007, while the overall hospitalisation costs have shot up by 37.15%.
“The inflation is ridiculous, especially for heart diseases,’’ said Dr Mohammed Mukhtar, MD, India Healthcare Services (TPA) Pvt Ltd, adding, “Hospitalisation charges are normally increased by about 8% in two years. But 37.15% is not acceptable.”
Manoj Bhatia (name changed), a businessman, underwent a bypass surgery for three blocks in his heart in 2007.
The treatment at a major heart institute in Central Mumbai cost him about Rs3.5 lakh.
It was a far more expensive proposition for IT technician, Ajit Singh (name changed), who underwent angioplasty for two blocks at a Navi Mumbai hospital. It cost him Rs4 lakh.
Major general Vijay Krishnan, vice-president of Association of Hospitals and the CEO of Breach Candy hospital, said, “In Mumbai, nobody charged only Rs1.5 lakh for heart treatment even three years ago. It could have been lower at small towns. But it is possible that they have hiked the rates now to cope with the rising costs. The inflation probably reflects that.”
The treatment of cardiac ailments is expensive because of stents, which cost over a lakh rupees, and the charges for the operation theatre and doctor’s services, said Krishnan. An average heart treatment costs between Rs4 lakh and Rs5 lakh in his hospital, he added.
“It is mostly because of the doctors. The cycle of demand and supply comes to play here. There are a few doctors with a brand name and many people want to get operated by them. These patients have to pay a premium,” said colonel M Masand, MD of Jaslok hospital.
The doctors’ charges are fixed by the hospital in the lower class rooms. A bypass surgery in Jaslok’s general ward will cost between Rs1.5 and Rs 2 lakh in case of one block and an angioplasty will cost about Rs1.5-2 lakh, he added.
He also attributed the inflated rates to rising costs of infrastructure, including electricity and salaries of employees.
But most experts said that the overall inflation rate of 27% is nothing to worry about. “I think, though the overall inflation rate is legitimate. The cost of food, consumables and other items has increased since the last three years,” said Krishnan.
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