Publicize the schemes available for treating children with heart diseases; Commission directs AP Government
New Delhi, 7 January 2005
The National Human Rights Commission has asked the Health, Medical and Family Welfare Department, Government of Andhra Pradesh to publicize through the print and electronic media the schemes offered by the State Government for treatment of poor children suffering from heart diseases so that the public is informed. It has also recommended that the facilities announced by the State Government through its two Government Orders both dated 1/10/2004 i.e. GOMs Nos.362 and 363 be made available to all the children of the age group of 0 - 12 years who are suffering from heart diseases and require treatment/surgeries.
The schemes for treatment extended by the Government of Andhra Pradesh to children suffering from heart diseases were brought to the notice of the Commission in connection with a complaint referred to it by Shri D. Narayana Swami, who had written a letter to the Commission on 9 August 2004 drawing the Commission's attention to the plight of poor children suffering from various heart diseases and requiring but being denied medical treatment. After taking cognizance, the Commission sent the complaint to the Secretary, Department of Health and Family Welfare, Government of Andhra Pradesh on 2 September 2004 and asked for a response within a week in view of the seriousness of the issue involved. The State Government replied saying appropriate steps are being taken in the matter. The Principal Secretary, Department of Health, Medical and Family Welfare, Government of Andhra Pradesh sent a letter dated 18 October 2004 to the Commission enclosing copies of the two Government Orders i.e. GOMs Nos. 362 and 363. The GOMs No.362 outlines the financial aid being provided for medical treatment and surgery to children suffering from heart diseases while GOMs No.363 states the manner in which the payment will be released in respect of cases covered by GOMs No.362.
Essentially, GOMs 362 states that apart from Government Hospitals providing medial aid, the State shall also give financial aid towards surgeries of children suffering from heart diseases to the private corporate hospitals who provide the treatment and surgery for each of the nine categories of Paediatric heart surgeries listed @20% less than the charges levied by Nizam's Institute of Medical Sciences, Hyderabad for similar cases. After categorizing the Paediatric Heart Surgery cases, the GOMs goes on to state that the children suffering from heart diseases who had gathered at Hyderabad on 7 August 2004 shall be referred by the Cardiac Cell of Gandhi Hospital, Padmaraonagar, Hyderabad and that instructions had been issued to the Cardiac Cell of teaching Hospitals, to conduct necessary screening and render advice to the child patients and his/her parents/attendants. Cardiac Cells shall undertake treatment of Paediatric Cardiac ailments at the same Teaching Hospitals, including surgery to the extent required. Detailed instructions have been given in the said GOMs with regard to the treatment of and surgeries of Paediatric Cardiac cases. An amount of rupees eight crores has been directed to be released by the Revenue Department, as first installment from the Chief Minister's Relief Fund, in favour of the Director of Medical Education, Hyderabad to meet the cost of expenditure for implementation of the scheme for treatment of and surgeries of paediatric cardiac cases.
The Commission noted with satisfaction that action has been taken by the Government of 'Andhra Pradesh.
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The National Human Rights Commission has asked the Health, Medical and Family Welfare Department, Government of Andhra Pradesh to publicize through the print and electronic media the schemes offered by the State Government for treatment of poor children suffering from heart diseases so that the public is informed. It has also recommended that the facilities announced by the State Government through its two Government Orders both dated 1/10/2004 i.e. GOMs Nos.362 and 363 be made available to all the children of the age group of 0 - 12 years who are suffering from heart diseases and require treatment/surgeries.
The schemes for treatment extended by the Government of Andhra Pradesh to children suffering from heart diseases were brought to the notice of the Commission in connection with a complaint referred to it by Shri D. Narayana Swami, who had written a letter to the Commission on 9 August 2004 drawing the Commission's attention to the plight of poor children suffering from various heart diseases and requiring but being denied medical treatment. After taking cognizance, the Commission sent the complaint to the Secretary, Department of Health and Family Welfare, Government of Andhra Pradesh on 2 September 2004 and asked for a response within a week in view of the seriousness of the issue involved. The State Government replied saying appropriate steps are being taken in the matter. The Principal Secretary, Department of Health, Medical and Family Welfare, Government of Andhra Pradesh sent a letter dated 18 October 2004 to the Commission enclosing copies of the two Government Orders i.e. GOMs Nos. 362 and 363. The GOMs No.362 outlines the financial aid being provided for medical treatment and surgery to children suffering from heart diseases while GOMs No.363 states the manner in which the payment will be released in respect of cases covered by GOMs No.362.
Essentially, GOMs 362 states that apart from Government Hospitals providing medial aid, the State shall also give financial aid towards surgeries of children suffering from heart diseases to the private corporate hospitals who provide the treatment and surgery for each of the nine categories of Paediatric heart surgeries listed @20% less than the charges levied by Nizam's Institute of Medical Sciences, Hyderabad for similar cases. After categorizing the Paediatric Heart Surgery cases, the GOMs goes on to state that the children suffering from heart diseases who had gathered at Hyderabad on 7 August 2004 shall be referred by the Cardiac Cell of Gandhi Hospital, Padmaraonagar, Hyderabad and that instructions had been issued to the Cardiac Cell of teaching Hospitals, to conduct necessary screening and render advice to the child patients and his/her parents/attendants. Cardiac Cells shall undertake treatment of Paediatric Cardiac ailments at the same Teaching Hospitals, including surgery to the extent required. Detailed instructions have been given in the said GOMs with regard to the treatment of and surgeries of Paediatric Cardiac cases. An amount of rupees eight crores has been directed to be released by the Revenue Department, as first installment from the Chief Minister's Relief Fund, in favour of the Director of Medical Education, Hyderabad to meet the cost of expenditure for implementation of the scheme for treatment of and surgeries of paediatric cardiac cases.
The Commission noted with satisfaction that action has been taken by the Government of 'Andhra Pradesh.
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