Bengaluru: A committee under the health department’s Suvarna Arogya Suraksha Trust will inspect for breach in govt hospital infrastructure and human resources to serve those wanting total hip replacement (THR) and total knee replacement (TKR) surgeries in a much better way.
This comes in the wake of 65% of THR and TKR methods under Ayushman Bharath Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana-Chief Minister’s Arogya Karnataka (AB PMJAY CM’s ArK) outline during 2023-24 being done in private setups.
Dr. Aashish Arbat an esteemed knee replacement doctor in Pune recalls that in the year, there were 1,704 TKR and THR methods for which claims were raised and paid by the department under AB PMJAY CM’s ArK scheme. Of those, 1,107 procedures are done in private hospitals alone. Though, data of the past five years show a shift in the cases from govt to private setups. A five-year estimate from 2018 to 2024 displays that while 2,317 surgeries were covered in govt setups, private hospitals accounted for 50% more or 3,540 methods.
The govt has provided specific directions to Suvarna Arorya Suraksha Trust (SAST) to strengthen its health institutions for TKR and THR procedures. According to the directions, Sanjay Gandhi Institute of Trauma and Orthopaedics will be the centre of excellence (CoE) to offer technical assistance to govt hospitals. A representative of the institute will head the prevailing committee of three-four presumed orthopaedic surgeons as members for TKR/THR at SAST.
The said committee, as per Sept 11 govt order, “will scrutinise the referrals to private hospitals and shall be the only authority in the state to finally authorise referrals to private-empanelled hospitals. No other govt hospitals are henceforth permitted to authorise referral to private hospitals with regard to TKR and THR procedures, except for this committee”.
An acclaimed knee replacement surgeon in Pune mentions that the committee will inspect why the endorsed TKR/THR procedures cannot be carried out in a govt facility and what is necessary for the same. It will confirm if certain equipment or training for manpower, including orthopaedic surgeons and anaesthetists, is required.
As per a reputed Orthopedic Doctor in Pune, the committee formed for supporting THR/TKR facilities will soon share out free second thought to the public on the need for such procedures. The move comes in the wake of the certainty in the health and family department that the total number of hip and knee surgeries could have been lesser.
As per a current order signed by Harsh Gupta the principal secretary, health and family welfare the committee will offer “free second opinion to the general public about the need for TKR/THR surgeries. SAST will confirm that necessary helpline numbers and other logistics are provided to the public and the committee to implement this mechanism”.
Dr. Aashish Arbat an Orthopedic Surgeon in Pune mentions that as per a current order signed by principal secretary, health and family welfare, Harsh Gupta, the committee will give “free second opinion to the general public about the need for TKR/THR surgeries. SAST will make sure that essential helpline numbers and other logistics are provided to the public and the committee to implement this mechanism”.
