CARDIOVASCULAR SURGERIES

Private hospitals in city plan to increase charges, 'cash patients' to be hit hardest, for now

A spike in the cost of surgical devices, implants, procedural instruments and peripheral material has forced an upward revision of charges, which may not be an across-the-board spike in rates, said the hospitals. Cost of angioplasty, cardiothoracic and cardiovascular surgeries may see a rise, along with some implants like MRI-compatible pacemakers and devices used in spine and orthopaedic procedures.