COST OF SURGERY

You should hold a full and frank discussion about the costs of surgery before you enter the hospital. Many cordial patient-doctor relationships are severely damaged by misunderstandings concerning fees and allied expenses. Surgeons or family physicians are willing to describe the financial obligations associated with the procedure.

In a large majority of instances, surgeon's fees make up a minor part of the total expenses incurred, majority being the high cost of hospital and nursing services including the disposables. Avoid the embarrassing situation of realizing that you have insufficient funds to pay the surgeon.
You must arrange to pay for the following:

1. Hospital Services: This will cover:

• Room and board
• Floor (not special) nursing care.
• Drugs and medications.
• Treatments such as injections, intravenous solutions, etc.
• The use of the operation theater and its equipment.
• Laboratory & Imaging investigations.
• Anaesthesia
• Surgeon's & Physician's fee (In private nursing homes this is to be paid separately to concerned doctors)

2. Special nursing care: Private nurses usually work on eight-hour shifts so that three are necessary for round-the-clock coverage. Their services must be paid separately. Rates in Mumbai - Rs 350- Rs 400 per shift.
   
   
3. Blood transfusions: Blood is given in a great many operative procedures. In major hospitals, blood is to be replaced and a fee for the transfusion, is charged for separately.
   
   It is important to remember that surgeons - given an accurate idea of financial difficulties do adjust their fees to meet individual situations. And most important of all, they also arrange for free surgical care in the wards of voluntary, municipal, or Government hospitals for those who are unable to pay the prevailing rates in private practice. Affording patients, sadly, give false information and seek free or subsidized care.