Covid-19: Paediatricians urge Karnataka govt to revise allocation for children under AB-ArK

HUBBALLI: Amid growing fears of vast numbers of children falling prey to Covid-19 in the expected third iteration of the pandemic, paediatricians across Karnataka have urged the state government to revise the allocation made under the Ayushman Bharat-Arogya Karnataka (AB-ArK) scheme for the treatment of kids.
Pointing to the difficulties in diagnosing not only Covid-19 but also multi-system inflammatory (MSI) syndrome among children, child health experts have pointed out that the sum allocated under the scheme for their treatment is woefully inadequate. They have further demanded that the state government constitute a committee comprising senior paediatricians, working in government and private hospitals, and task the same with setting the slab for the reimbursement package.
Chairman of Indian Academy of Paediatrics (IAP) Federation of Paediatric Critical Care Hospitals Dr LH Bidari pointed out that, unlike in adults, symptoms of Covid-19 in children could be easily missed. “We can ascertain the infection only after checking them thoroughly. As far as preparedness to secure children for the third wave of Covid is concerned, the government appears to have done what it needs to, albeit only on paper. This needs to be translated into action soon, in the larger interest of our children’s health,” Dr Bidari told TOI.
The senior paediatrician, one of the founding members of the Yeshaswini Scheme, of which he was a trustee till 2019, called on the government to hike the package for treatment of children admitted to ICU, or requiring ventilator support. “At the moment, the sum allocated under the AB-ArK scheme for this mode of treatment is Rs 2,500 per day. This must be revised to around Rs 6,000 to Rs 12,000. When the government is contemplating reopening of schools, it is imperative that it streamlines the process that will keep kids healthy,” said Dr Bidari, adding that revision of allocation was a simple task for the government, but it needed a strong will to execute it.
President of the Karnataka wing of National Neonatal Forum Dr Kotturesha said, “Nearly 80% of children and infants are treated at private hospitals. In fact, Covid-19 is being detected even among new-born kids, many of whom are being admitted to treatment for MSI syndrome. It is difficult to distinguish Covid from MSI syndrome, septicaemia among infants.”
Dr Shivappa Malipatil, Dr Rajendra Salagar, Dr Niranjan Mahanshetti were among the other senior paediatricians who called on the government to modify the criteria for admission and treatment of infants and children under Ayushman Bharat-Arogya Karnataka.