5 more TS hosps barred from Covid treatment
A total of 79 hospitals have received show-cause notices for fleecing patients
Five more hospitals in the state have been barred from treating Covid-19 patients for excess and irrelevant billing, mismanagement and lack of proper attention to patients. Consequently, action has been initiated against 10 hospitals in the state in the last two days. They cannot take any new patients but those already undergoing treatment in the 10 hospitals will continue to be treated.
The five hospitals barred on Saturday include Image Hospitals at Ameerpet, Ankura Hospitals at LB Nagar, Sia Life Hospital at Kondapur, Panchavati Hospital at Bhoothpur Mahabubnagar and Sai Siddhartha Hospital in Shapurnagar in Sanga Reddy.
The director of public health and family welfare stated that the government has so far received 115 complaints against 79 hospitals.
Show-cause notices have been issued to all 79 hospitals but some hospitals stated that they have not received any such notices. Stating that they were caught unaware, they said that they are trying to check the grievances of patients and would shortly reply to the government.
Dr G. Srinivas Rao, director of public health and family welfare said, “We have sent show-cause notices to the emails that have been provided to us and also to the respective hospitals.”
Managements of small hospitals state that they will reply to the government as they have endeavoured to provide the best possible treatment to their patients. A senior doctor from Telangana Hospitals and Nursing Homes Association (THANA) said, “There has to be a systematic scrutiny before taking any action. True that there are some black-sheep but not all are fleecing patients. Are patients with higher viral load surviving in government hospitals? Why are we being pulled up when human resources, medical devices and oxygen are priced four times higher than the normal rate. We are not working like quacks who give steroids and people report back with black fungus. The government must take action but they must look into the genuineness of the complaint. Why are big hospitals, which are charging more than `10 lakh, not in the list? Has no one complained about them?”
THANA president Dr Kishan Rao met the director of public health about the revised rates for private hospitals two days ago but there has been no response from the government.
Another senior member of THANA said “They must get back to us as we are also serving people and need clarity as cases are still being reported in hospitals. Controlling the pandemic has to be a joint effort and in the best interest of people. If they understand the problems that we are facing, there will be clarity and a way forward.”
Private hospitals state that they are under a lot of financial stress as they do not get oxygen and medical devices for free. Their investment in present times is at an all-time high due to mindboggling rates in the market. Instead of controlling the looters, the government is going after those who are striving to rescue patients, stated an aggrieved doctor on condition of anonymity.