State to cap virus treatment cost in private hospitals

CHANDIGARH: The Punjab government will cap the hospitalisation and treatment cost in private hospitals for Covid patients and those not adhering to it will be shut down, chief minister Capt Amarinder Singh said on Saturday.

The rate for private hospitals and clinics is expected to be finalised by Monday, the CM said during his #AskCaptain session on Facebook.

Taking strict view of complaints of exorbitant fee being charged by private hospitals, the CM termed such actions as ‘antipeople and anti-national’ and warned that the private institutions will not be allowed to indulge in such shameless profiteering at the cost of the lives of people. “If these hospitals do not agree to the government rates, we will close them down,” he added.

Expressing concern over the spike in Covid cases in the state, the CM said he had sought from the Centre permission to allow the state to make Covid test certificates mandatory for all those crossing the border, adding that with 87,000 cars having entered Punjab from Delhi alone in recent days, the threat of the pandemic spiralling further was acute.

He reiterated the state’s full preparedness for handling the crisis, with no shortage of equipment, saying the battle had to be fought collectively, appealing to people to wear masks and maintain social distancing.