Click here to view Guidelines and Ceiling Rates for Permission/Reimbursement for Bariatric Surgery Procedures under CGHS/CS(MA) Rules
NEW DELHI: The growing demand for weight-loss
surgeries from sarkari babus has forced the Centre to include the procedure,
long considered a lifestyle choice, in the central government health scheme
(CGHS) list. It will now be available free of cost to those covered under the
government scheme at select hospitals.
According to the Union health ministry,
guidelines of the US National Institute of Health will be used for select
candidates for the procedure. The government has fixed a package rate of Rs 2.25
lakh per person for such a surgery. In India, an estimated 200 million people
suffer from weight-related issues. According to Dr Praveen Bhatia, executive
member of Obesity Surgery Society of India, close to 2,000 persons undergo
weight loss surgery every year. Bariatric surgery involves stapling of a portion
of the stomach to reduce a person's appetite.
"The decision has been taken in view of the
increasing number of requests for bariatric surgery, commonly known as
weight-loss surgery," said a senior health ministry official. He said that till
date there no guidelines for consideration of weight-loss surgery under the CGHS
scheme and the requests were considered on merits of each case.
The new guidelines provide for reimbursement of
surgery charges to patients who have BMI more than or equal to 40 kg/m2. If the
person has obesity related co-morbidities, for example hypertension,
cardio-vascular disease and diabetes, then surgery can be considered even if the
BMI is more than or equal to 35 kg/m2.
The BMI of a healthy individual is anywhere
between 18-23 kg/m2, said Dr Deep Goel, director, department of minimal access,
bariatric surgery at B L Kapoor Hospital. "The government seems to have finally
realised that weight-loss surgery is not a mere cosmetic procedure. It is a
life-saver for very obese patients," said Dr Pradeep Chowbey, director, Max
Institute of minimal access, metabolic and bariatric surgery.
"The decision will help those unable to afford
the procedure on their own. Also, it will force private insurance companies to
re-think their policy against reimbursement for weight loss surgery," Dr Bhatia,
who chairs the bariatric surgery unit at Sir Ganga Ram hospital, added.
Experts, however, warn that people should not
rush to undergo the surgery just because it will be reimbursed or they want to
look better. "We get many patients who seek to undergo the procedure to look
better or youngsters seeking to get married. One needs to think over the
consequences of surgery and diet restrictions before deciding to undergo the
same. Also, a wrong surgery conducted by an inexperienced doctor can put the
patient at risk for leak and death," said another senior doctor.
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