5 hospitals lose permit to treat Covid patients

Five private hospitals of Hyderabad have lost government permission to treat Covid-19 patients for “inappropriate and surplus billing”.

According to Director, Public Health, these medical institutions are Virinchi Hospitals at Banjara Hills, Neelima Hospital in Sanathnagar, Max Health Hospitals, KPHB Colony, Kukatpally; TX Hospital, Kachiguda; and VINN Hospitals, Begumpet.

The health director said explanation sought by state government from these hospitals was found unsatisfactory.

It is stated Virinchi Hospitals did not carry out treatment as per Covid-19 protocols. This led to the death of a patient, whose relatives complained to the department. A showcause notice issued to Virinchi did not elicit any answer.

The patient died on May 22 but relatives vandalised the hospital on May 28. This caused a lot of distress to 150 patients who were undergoing treatment in the hospital. Virinchi Hospitals did not respond despite repeated attempts to reach it.

The Indian Medical Association Telangana chapter strongly objected to the vandalising of Virinchi Hospital. Chapter president Dr Lav Kumar Reddy said, “Attacking is not the solution. There is a procedure the relatives must follow.”

He said the government’s action against hospitals was a warning to those charging exorbitant amounts. “At the same time, we appeal to the government to look into the problems of hospitals and revise the tariff,” he said.