December 10, 2013
WB govt more facilities under Shishu Sathi Scheme
The state health department has instructed three private hospitals – RN Tagore International Institute of Cardiac Sciences, BM Birla Heart Research Centre and Durgapur Mission hospital – to provide first post operative follow up to children free of cost under the Shishu Sathi Prokolpo.
The decision was taken after it was found that most children who undergo congenital heart surgery need post operative follow up, but the cost of treatment is very high. The state government launched the ‘Shishu Sathi Prokolpo' scheme on 21 August and according to the scheme, children between 0-18, from all over the state with congenital cardiac defects would be treated free-of-cost at all government hospitals having pediatric facilities and especially at the three private hospitals with which the government has tied up.
Recently, a meeting had been convened at the state health department, where a decision was taken that post operative follow up, including echo cardiography, should be done free of cost.
A draft proposal has been prepared where it was stated that a second follow up visit should also be made free of cost at the private hospitals, and if any further follow up is required, should be looked after by the district hospitals and state-run medical colleges.
Even for blood banks, Kolkata-based hospitals will be linked to the Central blood bank and the Mission Hospital so that children, who need blood, can get blood easily under the scheme. It was also decided that the state should form a working group and fix the rate of the implants, devices that are required during congenital heart surgery in these three private hospitals.
The proposal also made clear that overnight food and lodging of the accompanying guardian of the patient should be made free.
A government order is being issued soon for providing post operative follow up free of cost for children between 0-18.
