Second medical opinion: Soon all hospitals may have to share data on elective joint surgeries with Health Department

Karnataka hospitals may send joint surgery data to Health Department; second opinion helpline aims to prevent unnecessary surgeries.

Soon, all hospitals in Karnataka may have to send data of elective joint surgeries to the Health Department, much ahead of the surgery date. Following poor response to the State’s second opinion helpline for joint surgeries that was launched on November 19 last year, the Department is now planning to contact the patients and provide a second opinion to help avoid unnecessary surgeries.

Since its launch, the dedicated second opinion helpline — 18004258330 — has received 99 calls. Functional round the clock under the Suvarna Arogya Suraksha Trust (SAST), the nodal agency implementing Ayushman Bharat-Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana-Chief Minister’s Arogya Karnataka (AB-PMJAY-CM’s ArK), the helpline was set up to ensure that every citizen receives comprehensive and personalised medical advice for managing joint-related issues.

Joint replacement surgeries like total knee replacement (TKR) and total hip replacement (THR) are increasing due to the growing prevalence of arthritis, age-related joint degeneration, and injuries. However, not all patients with joint problems may need surgery and the condition can be conservatively managed in some, according to experts.

Harsh Gupta, Principal Secretary (Health), said in such a situation, patients are often faced with dilemmas and have challenges in deciding upon the best available treatment/ surgery. The helpline has been set up to help such patients make informed decisions by getting a free second opinion for complex elective joint surgeries from government experts, he said.

“As the response to the helpline has not been great so far, we are contemplating asking all hospitals registered under the Karnataka Private Medical Establishments (KPME) Act to share details of patients scheduled to undergo elective joint surgeries in advance. Our team of experts will contact the patients and review whether the surgeries are actually required or if the condition can be conservatively managed. The intention is to ensure that every citizen receives comprehensive and personalised medical advice for managing joint-related issues, and if there are any alternatives to prevent surgery. We are working on bringing in such a system, and discussions are on,” Mr. Gupta told The Hindu.

According to data from SAST, of the 99 calls received so far, only 20 callers shared documents for a second opinion from experts. However, experts could review only 17 of these 20 patients as the remaining had not shared complete and correct documents, SAST officials said.

“The helpline is aimed at providing evidence-based guidance by a group of experts to patients having knee and hip problems and guiding them to take a mature decision about the best available treatment option. However, 79 of the 99 callers called seeking consultation for joint problems and not a second opinion for surgeries, thereby diluting the purpose of the helpline,” officials said.