MUMBAI: The PET-CT scan, an expensive diagnostic investigation essential for accurate cancer diagnosis, determining the stage and spread of the disease and assessing treatment outcomes will now be available under the Mahatma Jyotirao Phule Jan Arogya Yojana and Ayushman Bharat-Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana. This major decision, taken by the public health department of the state government, will being much relief for cancer patients.
In response to this demand, an independent study committee was constituted on the instructions of public health and family welfare minister Prakash Abitkar. Abitkar stated that the decision would make cancer treatment more accessible and timely while helping reduce the financial burden on patients who require expensive diagnostic investigations. It will be mandatory for the concerned specialists to certify the medical necessity for the PET-CT scan.
The government has approved a rate of ₹ 20,400 for a full-body PET-CT, ₹ 14,650 for a brain PET-CT, ₹ 15,000 for a Gallium 68 PET-CT and ₹ 9,400 for cardiac ailments PET-CTs. Due to the exorbitant cost, many patients would often postpone or avoid PET-CT scans to their detriment, and citizens and empanelled hospitals had been demanding the inclusion of PET-CT scans under the public health schemes.
After considering the recommendations made by the committee, the government took this decision, said an official. The empanelled hospital must also have the necessary technical facilities, equipment, qualified personnel and its own in-house PET-CT centre, said officials.
PET-CT scans have been included as an add-on diagnostic procedure in 63 cancer treatment packages. Previously, the facility was available under 44 packages. In addition, approval has been granted to include PET-CT scans as a regular/primary diagnostic procedure for 13 selected types of cancer treatments, for which their medical usefulness has been established. It will now be available as a standalone or primary diagnostic procedure for 13 cancer treatments, where the scan is medically essential.
Earlier reporting noted: The public health department issued a govt resolution (GR) on Oct 15 adding PET-CT as an “add-on diagnostic procedure” in 63 cancer treatment packages, up from 44 earlier.
Earlier reporting noted: Relief for cancer patients as PET-CT scan comes under state health cover PET-CT scans help doctors detect cancer, determine its stage, assess if the disease has spread and monitor the response to treatment Earlier reporting noted: Pune: Maharashtra govt has included PET-CT scan under Mahatma Jyotirao Phule Jan Arogya Yojana (MJPJAY) and Ayushman Bharat–Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana, paving the way for accurate cancer diagnosis and treatment planning without a pocket pinch.
As per the government resolution issued on Friday, PET-CT scans have been included as an ‘Add-on Diagnostic Procedure’ in 63 cancer treatment packages. The investigation has also been approved as a ‘Regular/Primary Diagnostic Procedure’ for 13 types of cancer treatments. In Mumbai’s five-star hospitals, a PET-CT costs nearly ₹ 35,000.
