Volumes can result in reduction in health care costs

Fortune India in their October 2010 issue has covered a detailed write up on Medanta Hospital, Gurgaon and it has some interesting facts.



Medanta has ambitious plan to increase the number of beds ultimately to 1800 beds. This will lead to efficiency in use of equipment / resources and this is the reason why Medanta is charging 15% to 60% lower than what other hospitals are charging. These facts support the fact that Large hospitals can be competitive.

Medical bills contribute towards 62% of bankruptcies among families

Harvard University in USA has collected data for 2007 and has come out with the study that medical bills contribute towards 62% of bankruptcies among families.

We are assuming that this study was focussed on US families.Our estimates are that even in other countries the similar figures are applicable.Recently we have come across a family in Delhi which had to sell their 2 properties to pay for kidney transplant. They had no other alternative as they were not having any health insurance.In the legal terminology this family has not gone in for bankruptcy but selling of 2 properties and moving to a rented house is same thing.

Ayurveda, Unani, Siddha , Homeopathy have started getting recognition

Over period of time we have propagated due recognition to be given to Ayurvedic / Homeopathic /Unani/Siddha system of health care,which is used by crores of persons living in different parts of India.In our country we are having over 250 Ayurvedic Medical colleges.It is good to notice that HDFC Ergo Health Suvidha policy pays for medical expenses for inpatient treatment under Ayurveda, Unani, Siddha or Homeopathy. It pays upto 20% of Sum Insured; Maximum Rs. 20,000 (for Policy Sum Insured 2L & 3L) and Rs. 25,000 (for policy Sum Insured Rs. 4L).

This amount is less but we appriciate the beginning.We do hope other Insurance companies will also start coverage under Ayurveda, Unani, Siddha , Homeopathy system of treatment.Why not have a policy which is only for Ayurveda, Unani, Siddha , Homeopathy.Why to charge someone (who beleives in treatment under these syatems) for 100 and give benefit of 6 ( Rs. 25000 against sum assured of Rs 4 lakh)