Kolkata: The state govt has fixed the rates for specialised surgical oncology procedures at private healthcare organisations empanelled under the West Bengal Health Scheme (WBHS), expanding the range of advanced cancer treatments available to eligible state govt employees, pensioners and their dependants.
The new rates will not apply to Tata Medical Centre and Chittaranjan National Cancer Institute and Woodburn ward at IPGMER-SSKM. The state has also notified that its employees and other beneficiaries, covered under the scheme, can now avail treatment at five more AIIMS, including facilities in Patna, Guwahati, Kalyani, Bhubaneswar and Deoghar, without prior permission. AIIMS, New Delhi, was already recognised under the scheme. The approved rates for specialised surgical oncology procedures are aimed at addressing gaps in the existing WBHS rates, which did not adequately cover many advanced surgical procedures, the notice states. The new rates will be only for the empanelled facilities with valid NABH accreditation for surgical oncology. The admissible treatment cost will be calculated under several heads. Consultation fees will be admissible at existing rates. However, the reimbursement will be subject to the scheme’s existing provisions and will be limited to the actual amount charged by the institution or the admissible amount under WBHS, whichever is lower.