Referral system halts at women’s hospital

Neena Sharma

Tribune News Service

Dehradun, July 26

The referral programme for expectant mothers facing difficulties under the Janani Suraksha Yojana of the National Health Mission (NHM) has completely halted at the Doon Women’s Hospital due to several unresolved issues, including the renewal of memorandum of understanding (MoU) with a private hospital.

Since April, patients from Dehradun and other parts of the state are being forced to pay in cash for complicated pregnancies and cases pertaining to birth defect in newborns.

Earlier, under the Janani Suraksha Yojana, complicated pregnancies and serious ailments in newborns that could not be treated at the Doon Women’s Hospital were referred to higher medical centres. The cost of treatment was reimbursed at the CGHS rates under the NHM.

The Uttarakhand Health Department had signed an agreement with the Mahant Indresh Medical College, Dehradun, and the Himalayan Institute Hospital Trust, Jolly Grant, for undertaking these cases.

But the government has not renewed the agreement after the Doon Women’s Hospital was assimilated with the Government Doon Medical College and Hospital.

Since April 2016, the administration and financial powers have passed into the hands of the Principal of Government Doon Medical College and Hospital.

Not only the issue of reimbursement is pending but also a big question hangs on the future of the programme. “Earlier, the Chief Medical Superintendent of the women’s hospital had the powers to recommend cases on merit for reimbursement but all that has stopped now,” said Tikam Singh, a resident of Chakrata.

Further, after the upgrade, Doon Medical College has automatically become a higher or referral centre. But no decision has been taken whether the medical college is equipped to perform such complicated operations.

“In that case, the agreement will have to end. But the decision is still pending regarding the renewal or cancellation of the existing agreement with the private hospitals. As of now, we are in the dark regarding the status of the programme,” said Dr Kusum Nariyal, Director General (Health).

This arrangement was a boon for patients and their family members who could get the cases treated at the higher medical centres at the nominal CGHS rates under the Janani Suraksha Yojana.

Recently, the Central government had reprimanded the Uttarakhand Health Department for failing to meet the target of safe deliveries. Further under the Janani Suraksha Yojana, this additional incentive was added to provide relief to patients.