Nagpur:- Wockhardt Hospital’s Gandhinagar unit in city became the region’s first private hospital to begin treating Covid-19 patients as of July 1. The 45-bed independent unit is 500 m away from the main building on north Ambazari Road at the hospital. Several other private hospitals are now exploring possibilities for similar installations in Nagpur.
So far only government hospitals have been struggling with cases of coronavirus. Treatment in private hospitals will be costly because patients will have to pay according to rates approved by the government. Yet many might prefer private set-ups. Indeed, three patients were already admitted to Wockhardt unit.
“We’ve been working 15 days at Covid hospital. This unit is fully independent and we have made several interior changes to meet the needs, “said Dr. Nirmal Jaiswal, Critical Care and Internal Medicine specialist, who is part of the Wockhardt Covid-19 patient treatment team.
“We are currently in the process of developing phase. Initially it can accept only mild to moderate symptomatic patients. We have all the facilities which include ICU. Gradually, critical patients are being treated, too, “he said. He added that in case a patient admitted in moderate condition becomes serious in hospital, the team has all the facilities and expertise to treat them.
Officials from the health department have announced that a new order will be issued shortly after which patients who test positive will be given a choice of care in private or government hospital. Patients who have assessed successfully in government set-up and chosen for private care would have to pay according to the fixed rates.
For routine ward the capped isolation charges per day are Rs 4,000, for ICU without ventilator is Rs 7,500, while for ICU with ventilator is Rs 9,000. Such charges do not include PPE costs, interventional procedures such as insertion of the central line, insertion of the chemoport, bronchoscopic procedures, biopsies etc. Covid research shall be conducted according to actual cost as per directions.
Most notably, to be paid as per MRP, high-end drugs such as immunoglobulins, Meropenem, parenteral nutrition, tocilizumab, etc .. In the same side, it will bill inquiries such as CT scan, MRI, PET scan as per hospital prices.
Whole diagnosis, examinations, and medications are free in government hospitals. More than 1300 patients were treated free and discharged from GMCH, IGGMCH, Aiims and Kamptee Military Hospital to date.
Looking at the expected mid-July increase in number of patients, several patients may opt for private care. Directors of Nagpur ‘s leading private hospitals told they were now exploring possibilities for Covid-19 patients to have separate independent units.
Treatment at hospital in Pvt:
- Wockhardt hospital’s 45-bed facility in Gandhi Nagar is now a Covid hospital
- Initially it would accept only asymptomatic, mild and moderate cases
- NMC and district authorities will soon be offering patients an choice
- Those able to afford private treatment can opt for treatment here
- Patients from the Govt set-up will be treated at restricted tariffs
- Those who approach directly and would like pvt treatment will pay hospital rates
