Karnataka has now implemented the reduction of electricity tariff and also created a separate classification for hospitals. This makes it the first state in the country to bring down power tariff. The effort came about after representation put forth by the Association of Healthcare Providers (India) or AHPI to the Karnataka Electricity Regulatory Commission (KERC) to look at reducing the power cost for healthcare providers as this would considerably help hospitals to provide the best medical attention including reduction of infant and maternal mortality rate.

AHPI now wants to work with the government to focus on increasing the maternal and infant survival rates. In this regard, the Association is in the process of preparing a white paper on strategies to be presented to the government to bring down the maternal and infant death by 50 per cent within five years. It is now seeking total government cooperation for the success of this ambitious project, said Dr Giridhar Gyani, director general, AHPI.

Representing APHI were also Dr Prem Nair, medical director, Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences, Dr Devi Shetty, chairman, Narayana Health and Dr Alexander Thomas – director & CEO, AHPI.

“Any non-government hospital, including charitable hospitals in Karnataka used to incur over Rs.500 per bed a day on electricity charges. However, Karnataka is not an exception. Electricity cost incurred by hospitals across the country is exorbitant because hospitals are classified in the same group as shopping malls and movie theatres to levy power tariff. In effect, hospitals are categorized among entertainment and amusement industry. Consequently, cost of healthcare steadily increases every year across the country,” stated APHI.

In fact, APHI represents 3,000 members of leading non-government hospitals with 20 to 3000 beds across the country.

It is evident that healthcare expense is one of the most common causes of economic devastation of Indian family. Around 80 per cent of the national expenditure on healthcare is borne out-of-pocket. Around 47 per cent of the rural and 37 per cent of the urban population borrow money or sell assets to pay medical bills. Borrowing and out-of-pocket expenses pushes 3.3 per cent of Indian population to Below-Poverty-Line each year. Cost and delivery of healthcare will not change unless non-government hospitals work together with the policy makers and the government. AHPI is now looking to ensure delivery of affordable healthcare across the country, said Dr Gyani.

“India has the largest number of drug manufacturers, but when it comes to healthcare, the country has the worst record in terms of mortality rates. In 24 hours of birth, 29 per cent of infants die and in every 10 minutes, a woman dies of childbirth. We at AHPI have taken pledge to monitor activities and help the government. Our intention is to reduce the infant mortality rate and maternal mortality rate by 50 per cent, for which we require the support of the media. If people demand, there will be change,” said Dr Shetty.