Mumbai : For 59-year-old Suman Gaikwad, life will no more be filled with struggles to deal with a body weight of 85kg. She has lost a record 9 kgs in a week’s time, after undergoing a bariatric surgery at Mulund-based Aastha healthcare.
With this, Mumbai got its first cashless bariatric surgery. Ambernath-resident Gaikwad, wife of a retired Union Government employee, became the first case in the city in which a bariatric surgical treatment was funded under the Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS).
Before undergoing surgery, Gaikwad had a host of medical problems including high blood sugar levels, blood pressure and breathlessness. She had attempted non-surgical weight loss programs in the past but to no avail. That is when Aastha healthcare came to their rescue.
Suman and her husband were tensed about the surgery costs, but were relieved when Aastha informed them that they can avail the benefits under the revised CGHS guidelines.
Dr Manish Motwani, weight loss surgeon at Aastha Healthcare, said: “Many private hospitals in Mumbai are not aware that bariatric surgery can be covered under CGHS. Our institution is the only high volume bariatric centre in Mumbai affiliated to CGHS. This scheme is a boon for all those obese patients who otherwise could not have dreamt of getting this surgery done. Although there are several types of medical loans available for obesity treatment, CGHS can be a life changer for many patients.”
Post the surgery, Suman is now feeling at ease and her physical activity has also improved. “I feel better, lighter and energetic and I can move around without feeling tired. These things were not possible before the surgery and now my life has changed completely,” said Gaikwad.