Mohali hospital fined for charging beyond CGHS rates

Amarjot Kaur

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, January 7

The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has imposed a fine of Rs 50,000 on Fortis, Mohali, for charging a Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS) beneficiary over and above the prescribed rates.

Responding to advocate Pankaj Chandgothia’s legal notice on the issue, Additional Director, CGHS, Chandigarh, Dr Ashwani Kumar, said, “Cashless facilities were provided to the beneficiary, but Fortis Hospital has charged over and beyond the CGHS rates, which is a violation of the memorandum of agreement (MOA) signed by it. Hence, despite imposing a penalty of Rs 50,000, the expenditure of Rs 58,931 is also being recovered from its pending bills. In this regard, a warning letter has been issued to the hospital to ensure that such incidents are not repeated, failing which appropriate action will be taken as per the CGHS guidelines.”

City resident Surat Singh was admitted to Fortis under the Central scheme on November 24, 2017, following the reference of the CGHS officer. Being a member of the CGHS, Surat Singh’s expenditure on treatment was to be paid by the CGHS authorities directly to Fortis. He was referred to the hospital by the medical officer of the CGHS Wellness Centre No. 1, Sector 45, Chandigarh, on November 21, 2017.

Surat Singh died on December 3, 2017, and the hospital raised a bill of Rs 2,05,067, claiming that Rs 58,931 was payable by the patient’s family as their share of treatment expenditure, in order to get the body released. Succumbing to circumstances, Surat Singh’s son RS Rawat had to issue a cheque for Rs 58,931 in favour of Fortis Healthcare Ltd.

Chandgothia contended that the Supreme Court prohibited hospitals from holding back bodies on account of non-payment of dues. Even after Rawat stopped payment against the cheque, Fortis presented the cheque for encashment. The cheque was returned on the account of “stop payment”. However, the hospital filed a criminal complaint under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act against Rawat, who opted to come out of the onerous circumstances and paid Rs 58,931 before the court on the very first date of hearing.