Health insurance boost for expensive eye injection

Sep 25,2023

Eye surgeons in India, including Pune, have reported an increase in patients opting for expensive eye injections for retinal disorders since it was included in health insurance coverage in September 2019. The anti-VEGF injection is a lifelong treatment for conditions like diabetic macular edema and age-related macular degeneration. Approximately 1.1 crore patients in India suffer from retinal disorders, and the inclusion of these injections in insurance coverage has improved accessibility and treatment compliance. Insurance companies cover the treatment cost partially or fully based on individual policies.

PUNE: Eye surgeons across the country, including Pune, are seeing a surge in patients going in for expensive eye injectionfor retinal disorders following its inclusion in the health insurance coverage in September 2019.

The anti-VEGF(anti-vascular endothelial growth factor) injection is a life-long treatment for retinal disorders like diabetic macular edema and age-related macular degeneration. Currently, it is the only treatment offering hope as patients may face permanent vision loss if they do not receive or complete treatment.

Prevalence studies estimate that close to 1.1 crore patients in India suffer from retinal disorders, requiring prolonged anti-VEGF injection treatment.

"Nearly half of the patients not covered under the government schemes have started availing the benefits of anti-VEGF injections through their health insurance policies. This increase demonstrates the positive impact of insurance coverage on treatment accessibility," stated Dr Aditya Kelkar, chief eye surgeon at the National Institute of Ophthalmology (NIO), Pune.

Source: Times of India