RWAS demand cap on cost of Covid-19 treatment in city’s private hospitals

nNEWDELHI: With Delhi registering a sharp jump in the number of Covid-19 cases in the Capital, residents want the government to cap the cost of treatment in the city’s private hospitals and nursing homes.

The Delhi government had, on May 25, ordered 117 hospitals to reserve 20% of their beds for Covid-19 patients. As per the order issued by Directorate General of Health Services, “These 117 private hospitals shall bill the Covid-19 patients as per their respective schedule of charges.”

Citing the Maharashtra government’s decision to cap treatment cost, civil society members and residents’ welfare associations in Delhi demand similar action by the city government.

The Maharashtra government issued new guidelines on May 21 under which private hospitals have been allowed to charge up to ₹4,000 daily to treat Covid-19 patients in a general ward, ₹7,000 in an intensive care unit and ₹9,000 on a ventilator.

Earlier this month, members of Save Our City Campaign, an association of RWAS, federations and social activists, wrote to chief minister Arvind Kejriwal requesting the government to standardise the cost of consumables, medicines and treatment.

Rajiv Kakria, the convenor of Save Our City campaign, said, “When the government has capped the cost of hotel rooms used for Covid-19 care and stopped schools from increasing the fees, why can’t it do the same for private hospitals?”

Dr Girish Tyagi, the president of Delhi Medical Association, said, “This is an emergency. The government should discuss with doctors and private hospitals and devise a formula for the cost of treatment in the private setup, which is agreeable to all.”

A senior Delhi government official said, “There are 3,800 beds in government hospitals, of which one-third are occupied. The facility in government hospitals is free of cost. Moreover, we have passed an order today (May 29) wherein five hotels have been attached to five hospitals to increase the capacity and have capped the cost per day. Also, we have created isolation facilities in 10 hotels.”