Bangalore :
Heart ailments kill about three million Indians every year. Many die because they can’t afford treatment at the right time. Now, there’s a ray of hope for poor heart patients: EMI payment for the treatment in instalments.
Heart care has gone the EMI way in Bangalore and Mysore. In south India, about 20 hospitals are facilitating cardiac treatments through Equated Monthly Installments.
Sagar Hospital, Trinity Hospital and Panacea Hospital in Bangalore have come up with Healthy Heart for All (HHFA) – a programme in association with India Medtronic. manufacturers of stents. Fortis and Vikram Hospital in Mysore too are facilitating this programme which was floated a month ago.
Under HHFA, hospitals provide financial assistance to implant devices such as stents, pacemakers, implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) and cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) in heart patients. Furthermore, cardiac emergencies are almost always life threatening and patients often have a tough time raising the huge sums of money at short notice. To address this issue, HHFA offers loans.
Said Dr K S Kishore, interventional cardiologist, Sagar Hospital: “Heart patients are often rushed to hospital at the 11th hour. It’s difficult for the patient or the relative to arrange for cash immediately. In such situations, the EMI facility comes in handy. Under this programme, a patient can swipe the card and pay the cost of treatment in 6 installments without interest.”
The EMI can also be extended up to seven years on interest rate of 8.25%. The three hospitals in Bangalore are offering treatments like angioplasty and valve replacement.
Instalments for other treatments
Eye surgeries, robotic surgeries for cancer and dental procedures too can be paid in easy installments at a few hospitals in the city. Manipal Hospital offers this payment option for a range of treatments by tying up with two private banks. The EMI facility is available for procedures like bypass, angioplasty, open heart surgeries, robotic surgeries, a few eye surgeries and dental treatments.
Said Dr C G Muthana, vice-president, operations, Manipal Hospitals: “Several treatments are available on EMI payment at our hospital. A patient opting for this has to swipe the credit card of the bank we have partnered with and can pay the cost in three, six or nine installments without interest. The project has just started so there isn’t much awareness about it.”
source: http://www.articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / Home> City> Bangalore / by Hetal Vyas, TNN / January 30th, 2013