Rate caps for pvt hosps to continue till Aug 31

MUMBAI: The state government, while extending its order of capped rates for private hospitals for Covid-19 treatment till August 31, also reduced the charges for smaller cities and villagetehsil level hospitals.

All the municipal corporations in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region, except Vasai Virar, Bhiwandi, Nagpur and Pune, have been classified as A-class areas, while districts such as Nashik, Amravati, Bhiwandi, Nanded, Kolhapur and Sangli have been classified as B-class areas. The remaining rural regions are in C-category.

While the charges for the routine isolation range from ₹4,000, ₹3,000 and ₹2,400 per day for A, B and C category areas, respectively, it is ₹7,500, ₹5,500 and ₹4,500 for ICU without ventilators. For the treatment in ICU with ventilators, the rates are ₹9,000, ₹6,700 and ₹5,400 for the hospitals in A, B and C category areas, respectively. The rates include monitoring, investigations such as CBC, serum creatinine, urine routine, X-ray, ECG, nursing and bed charges.

The state had fixed the rates during the first wave of the pandemic last year after it received complaints of exorbitant charges levied by private hospitals. The rates have been fixed for the 80% beds in private hospitals, acquired by the government, for Covid-19 patients.

Health minister Rajesh Tope said there was a demand from people in villages and smaller cities to not keep the rates on par with that in cities like Mumbai. “It would not be appropriate to keep universal rates across the state. People in rural areas will get respite after the decision. Hospitals have to charge according to pre-audited bills.those violating the norms will face action after flying squads review the bills,” he said.