Two private hospitals refund money to victims

AMRITSAR: A day after the families of train accident victims alleged that the private hospitals are charging fee for the treatment, private hospitals — Prem Rai Hospital and Kumar Hospital — have been found guilty during a probe by deputy commissioner (DC) and sub-divisional magistrate (SDM).

During the emergency treatment, The Dhillon Scan charged ₹9,000 for an MRI scan where as Prem Rai Hospital charged ₹5,875 for providing medical facilities from one of the victims, Karmandeep Singh, son of Sukhdev Singh.

Singh who sustained injuries in arm and leg injury during the accident said, “During the time of emergency, the hospital made most of the opportunity and charged more for treatment. It is not about money, but humanity.”

Prem hospital refunded a total of ₹14,875 and SDM Rajesh Sharma handed over the cheque to Karmandeep Singh.

Another complainant Krishna had paid ₹1,500 to Kumar Hospital for treatment. The hospital also refunded the charged money to the victim.

After HT reported about the incident on Sunday, the matter was taken up deputy commissioner (DC) Kamaljit Singh Sangha.

DC Sangha said, “After the investigation, the hospitals were told to pay back the money and they complied.”

Despite the announcement made by state government to provide free treatment to all the victims of Jaura Phatak train mishap, that claimed 61 lives, a few victims had alleged that private hospitals had charged money from them.