Delisting private hospitals from CMHT
- The People's Chronicle Editorial :: September 02, 2024 -

COMING from an apolitical entity that has always been critical of the bickering among the political parties over any issue, it may sound political at its best.

But of all the political organisations and civil societies which are supposedly working for welfare of the public in the state, we feel that Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) has done the right thing in raising objection to the recent decision taken by the state cabinet to delist private hospitals from the purview of Chief Ministergi Hakshelgi Tengbang (CMHT) scheme with effect from September 30.

The decision to delist private hospitals from the purview of health insurance scheme was taken during a state cabinet meeting held at the Chief Minister's Secretariat on August 30.

But no other political organisations and civil societies, which are otherwise proactive over any issue, have not said anything so far despite the implications of this decision on the poor families, whose access to medical facilities, would now be curtailed to a certain extent.

This is rather unusual.

We need to remember that the Government of Manipur launched the Chief Ministergi Hakshelgi Tengbang (CMHT) scheme on January 21, 2018 with the main objective of offering cashless medical treatment of up to Rs 2 lakh (recently upgraded to Rs 5 lakh) per eligible family every year identified based on the Socio-Economic Caste Census (SECC)-2O11 at government hospitals, health centres and other empanelled selected private hospitals.

At the time of its launch, the scheme was hailed a boon not only for the poor families and disabled people but also as a right move towards accelerating healthcare services in Manipur in tune with the goal of universal health coverage (UHC) by ensuring all people have access to quality health services, without facing financial hardship.

As per available data, as of August 28,2024; 345,432 people have been enrolled under the scheme, and 242,804 of them have availed the benefit.

But all this is likely to change after September 30.

As Health Minister Dr Sapam Ranjan had stated, the decision to delist private hospitals from the purview of Chief Ministergi Hakshelgi Tengbang (CMHT) scheme with effect from September 30 may be aimed at encouraging public to go for treatment at government hospitals, which is a good thing. But one should understand why most people opt for private hospitals for treatment in Manipur.

Just like in the case of education, where even the poorest families would prefer to send their children to private schools and colleges as the educational institutions under the government of Manipur are not functioning properly despite efforts being made to give thrust towards improvement of the education system with launch of schemes like School or College Fagathansi Missions, lack of necessary infrastructure and manpower is one of the main reasons for the people in Manipur to prefer private hospitals when it comes to seeking medical treatment.

This is also the precise reason why the private hospitals and clinics are mushrooming everywhere.

There is also a vast difference between the government and private hospitals in terms of efficiency in providing services to the people.

Even if both the government and empanelled private hospitals keep separate counters to take care of the needs of CMHT card holders, the kind of dedication shown by staff manning the counters at private hospitals round the clock is something one could never expect to find at the government hospitals.

Unlike in government hospitals where the operation of CMHT cardholders' counters is subject to the mood of the staff, whose break time for lunch or tea is more important than anything else, private hospitals make sure that every CMHT card holder coming to seek medical treatment face no inconvenience at all.

Well, we do not have a breakdown of data on how many of the total 242,804 CMHT card holders who had received the benefit had sought medical treatment from private hospitals, but anyone who had visited the CMHT counters opened at both the private and government hospitals would easily understand what we are talking about.