HC refuses to pass order on overcharging by pvt hospitals
The Delhi high court, on Friday, refused to pass any direction to the Delhi government to ensure that no private hospital, which has been declared as Covid-19 hospital, charges the patients exorbitantly or deny treatment due to paucity of funds. A bench of Chief Justice D.N. Patel and Justice Prateek Jalan said though the issue raised in the plea is good, it cannot pass any general directions in the public interest litigation (PIL) which would be difficult to implement.
The court disposed of the petition filed by social activist and advocate Amit Sahni, who referred to the May 24 circular of the government regarding payment for treatment issued by a private hospital.The bench said in case of overcharging, an aggrieved party may approach the court with a specific prayer against such hospital but general directions cannot be passed in a PIL.
The plea has modification of the May 24 circular issued by the Delhi government which stated “these private hospitals shall bill the Covid-19 patients as per their respective schedule of charges. However, the billing for non-Covid patients admitted on the extra beds shall not be more than 50 per cent of the lower economy category of concerned hospital as per earlier practice during upsurge of cases of the vector borne disease.”These hospitals are obliged to provide 10 per cent IPD and 25 per cent OPD services to patients belonging to the economically weaker section.