HC to state: Take steps to refund excess hosp. fees

The Telangana High Court directed the state government to immediately initiate steps to refund the excess amount collected by private hospitals from

Covid-19 patients.

The division bench comprising Chief Justice Hima Kohli and Justice B. Vijaysen Reddy asked Advocate-General B.S. Prasad, to convey the government about the court’s concern and ensure that it would be implemented.

The A-G submitted that he would convey the message and come up with the response of the government on Wednesday.

The bench was dealing with the batch of PILs on

Covid-19. During the adjudication, several counsels raised concerns that the government has not so far issued new GOs on fixing a cap on prices for the treatment of Covid-19, and for tests like CT scan.

The bench specifically directed the government in May, to issue fresh GOs fixing the maximum prices to all the medical services, tests and medical equipment. Despite the court orders, the government has not issued a single GO in this regard.

When this was questioned by the bench, the Advocate-General replied that showcause notices were issued to the private hospitals on the 115 complaints received against fleecing of money.

He also submitted that licences to treat Covid -19 to a few private hospitals had been cancelled, after the enquiry reports mentioned that excess amounts were charged by them.

Reacting to it, Justice Kohli questioned, “How will these steps help the victims, who already have been fleeced? Of course, issuing of show cause notices, and cancellation of licences are parts of work. But, what is the position of the patients who paid money to save their lives?”

We are aware of the situations where the relatives of Covid patients are mortgaging gold, and approaching money lenders to pay hospital bills to save their kins’ life.” — CJ HIMA KOHLI