Haven’t heard from Fortis or govt, says victim’s family ›
Though the government is probing the matter, I am not sure how long I can wait. I have decided to write to everyone who can bring me justice. JAYANT SINGH, victim’s father
NEWDELHI:THE father of a girl who died of dengue at the Fortis Memorial Research Institute in Gurgaon two months ago intends to lodge formal complaints with the Prime Minister’s Office, Union health minister and the Delhi CM regarding a grossly inflated bill for her hospital stay.
“Though the government is probing the matter, I am not sure how long I can wait. I have decided to write to everyone who can bring me justice,” said Jayant Singh, the victim’s father.
The grieving parent claimed he was yet to be contacted by any investigation agency. “Fortis has not called us either, although they have been publicly issuing statements,” he said. “I, however, have spoken to other families with similar complaints.” Singh alleged that the hospital billed him for 660 syringes and 2,700 gloves during his daughter’s 15-day hospital stay, besides prescribing expensive medicines. The 20-page bill from the hospital came up to ₹16 lakh. Despite that, his child — seven-year-old Adya Singh — lost her life.
The matter came to light when Union health minister JP Nadda responded to a family friend’s tweet of outrage over the billing. Following that, Union health secretary Preeti Sudan asked the Haryana government to conduct an investigation and submit an action-taken report in two weeks.
Two directors from Haryana’s health department along with chief medical officer (CMO) Gurgaon and a member from district administration will probe from Thursday the death of a sevenyear-old girl because of dengue in September at a private hospital in Gurgaon. The directors reached the city on Wednesday.
“As directed by Haryana health minister, Anil Vij we have initiated the process for probe. We will submit a report about the Fortis Memorial Research Institute case within a week regarding the case,” said BK Rajora, CMO, Civil Hospital, Gurgaon. Fortis, however, said it adhered to every clinical guideline and standard medical protocol in the book.