Weight-loss surgery free for babus: Times of India
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.