Chennai: Indian Medical Association (IMA) state branch has recommended the state government to fix Rs 4.3 lakhs as treatment cost for 17 days ICU treatment for severe symptomatic COVID-19 patients.
In a letter written to health secretary Dr Beela Rajesh, IMA state president CN Raja and AK Ravikumar have provided the breakup of costing for reasoning.
The recommended cost does not include doctors consulting charges. It also does not include doctors quarantine, staff quarantine and food expenses in designated COVID centres which may work out to Rs 9,600 per day, according to IMA.
As per the break up for severe symptomatic covid patients, hospital charges including accommodation, equipment, and administrative charges which would work out to Rs 3,30,826 and pharmacy, Biomedical waste (BMW), consumables and investigation would work out to Rs 1,00,585.
The same for mild to moderate symptomatic COVID-19 patients has been worked out to Rs 1,75,596 and Rs 56,224. Both add up to Rs 2,31,820 without factoring other charges including doctors consulting charges.
The organisation has requested an audience with the health secretary to workout the costing. "Costing charges may change based on medication and duration of the treatment required as per the patients condition", the organisation said.
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Their 10-point charter also underscores the need for designated COVID-19 centres.
According to IMA, pooling of suspected COVID cases to one area will help in screening, notifying and prevention of community spread.
It has suggested that hospitals with more than 200 beds can be utilized for COVID CENTERS, COVID HEALTH CENTRE and COVID HOSPITAL which are located outside the city limits, preferably private medical colleges and other corporates.
IMA urged the government to frame manpower requirements, infrastructure facilities and management protocols for such designated COVID Centers.
The association has offered to help with manpower for the COVID CARE CENTERS / COVID HEALTH CARE CENTERS and in tele-consultation in such centers.
