Andhra caps CT scan price, forms 3-tier structure to manage Covid crisis

All diagnostic facilities and hospitals offering CT scan services for suspected Covid cases will have to register themselves on a government website with all details of the patient and the uploaded CT scan image will serve as a basis for hospital admissions.

Andhra Pradesh, Andhra Covid crisis, Andhra caps CT scan price, Hyderabad news, Indian express

People wearing masks as a precaution against the coronavirus wait for their turn to be administered COVISHIELD vaccine at a government hospital in Hyderabad. (AP)

Amid reports of a few private hospitals charging Covid patients heavy amounts for CT scans, the Andhra Pradesh government Monday capped the price for the service at Rs 3,000, including PPE kits and disposables, and warned of action over any violation. It also formed a three-tier structure for effective implementation of Covid management in the state.

“The Chief Minister ( Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy) reviewed the steps being taken for containment and management of Covid cases in the districts. In view of various reports regarding overcharging and fleecing of Covid patients by some unscrupulous hospitals, the government decided to follow the three-tier structure for effective implementation of Covid management in the state,” Health Minister A K Krishna Srinivas said.

All diagnostic facilities and hospitals offering CT scan services for suspected Covid cases will have to register themselves on a government website with all details of the patient and the uploaded CT scan image will serve as a basis for hospital admissions.

As per the three-tier structure, at the district level, district collectors shall divide all private hospitals permitted to treat Covid-19 patients into clusters and appoint an officer as in-charge for each of these clusters to frequently inspect these hospitals, receive complaints and take appropriate action wherever needed. Each cluster shall have five to eight private hospitals.

The district collector will form a district-level flying squad with representatives from DG, Drugs Control Administration, Vigilance and Enforcement Department and Medical and Health Department to ensure action against violators. It will also monitor cluster in-charge officers.

A state-level task force committee has been constituted to monitor the effective functioning of the above arrangements.

Sreenivas Janyala

Sreenivas Janyala is a Deputy Associate Editor at The Indian Express, where he serves as one of the most authoritative voices on the socio-political and economic landscape of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. With a career spanning over two decades in mainstream journalism, he provides deep-dive analysis and frontline reporting on the intricate dynamics of South Indian governance. Expertise and Experience Regional Specialization: Based in Hyderabad, Sreenivas has spent more than 20 years documenting the evolution of the Telugu-speaking states. His reporting was foundational during the historic Telangana statehood movement and continues to track the post-bifurcation development of both Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. Key Coverage Beats: His extensive portfolio covers a vast spectrum of critical issues: High-Stakes Politics: Comprehensive tracking of regional powerhouses (BRS, TDP, YSRCP, and Congress), electoral shifts, and the political careers of figures like K. Chandrashekar Rao, Chandrababu Naidu, and Jagan Mohan Reddy. Internal Security & Conflict: Authoritative reporting on Left-Wing Extremism (LWE), the decline of the Maoist movement in former hotbeds, and intelligence-led investigations into regional security modules. Governance & Infrastructure: Detailed analysis of massive irrigation projects (like Kaleshwaram and Polavaram), capital city developments (Amaravati), and the implementation of state welfare schemes. Crisis & Health Reporting: Led the publication's ground-level coverage of the Covid-19 pandemic in South India and major industrial incidents, such as the Vizag gas leak. Analytical Depth: Beyond daily news, Sreenivas is known for his "Explained" pieces that demystify complex regional disputes, such as river water sharing and judicial allocations between the sister states. ... Read More

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