Dialysis made free, hospital to refund money to 2 patients

Manmeet Singh Gill

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, June 26

With the state government announcing free dialysis services for all patients at government hospitals, the District Health Department has decided to refund money to two patients who were reportedly charged Rs 750 each for the facility erroneously at Civil Hospital on Saturday.

Health officials stated as the employees concerned were not aware of the new instructions, the patients were therefore charged. However, as the patients were later identified — they were regular patients — the department has issued instructions for refund of money.

The Civil Surgeon, Dr Pardeep Chawla, said, “Instructions have already been issued to refund the charges. The mistake occurred as the employees had no information about the new instructions.” Around four to six patients visit the Jallianwala Bagh Martyrs Memorial Civil Hospital for dialysis every day.

With the new instructions in force from Saturday, the hospital would not charge any fee. However, the fact that the state government has made the dialysis facility free for all patients, this, too, has created confusion among officials, as in the first instance they felt that the service was made free for poor patients only.

The reason behind the confusion is that the official letter in its subject mentioned “poor and needy patients” but the public announcement has made it free for all. The department officials stated that the facility had also been made free for patients visiting Government Medical College. The college had also received a copy of the instructions on June 23.