Don’t loot patients: Etala to pvt hosps

The government accused private and corporate hospitals of fleecing Covid-19 patients by overcharging them for drugs, and in the guise of PPE kits and ICU charges.

“Private hospitals have forgotten their humanity. Instead of providing medical treatment to the needy, these hospitals are only looking to make money off the patients,” health minister Etala Rajendar said.

The remarks came at a meeting he chaired to review with senior health officials, the hundreds of complaints the government has received from patients. He said, “It is just not fair to make money off the people who are fearing for their lives. Our department is receiving complaints that these hospitals are charging ten times of what they would have during normal times. Instead of chasing money and profits, private hospitals should play a constructive role in saving the lives of Covid-19 patients and display a sense of humanity.”

He instructed that a committee of senior officials be formed to probe every complaint received about private hospitals and action taken on those not following government orders on billing.

The meeting discussed complaints pertaining to rejection of health insurance, demanding deposit of up to `5 lakh before a patient is admitted, increasing charges saying a bed is being made available only with great difficulty, and some pertaining to how private hospitals were bundling off to government hospitals Covid-19 patients who were near death.