Chandigarh Administration steps in, now no more fleecing by private hospitals

Dushyant Singh Pundir

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, June 9

The UT Administration has formed committees to check fleecing of patients by private hospitals in the city.

Each committee will be headed by the Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) of the respective area with a deputy superintendent of police (DSP), a senior medical officer (SMO) and a drug inspector as its members.

The names of the SMO and the drug inspector will be recommended by the Civil Surgeon.

“The four-member committee will look into the complaints of overcharging by the private hospitals,” said Deputy Commissioner Mandip Singh Brar.

“Any person or patient can file a complaint with the SDM of the respective area,” Brar said.

“The complaint will be inquired into by the committee and if any wrongdoing is found, action will be initiated against the errant private hospital as per the law,” he added.

Arun Kumar Gupta, Principal Secretary, Health, said the committee would also inquire into the complaints of overcharging received against the hospitals during the second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Taking advantage of the sudden spurt in Covid-19 cases, several private hospitals allegedly overcharged patients for treatment.

On receiving complaints, the UT Health Department issued notices to several private hospitals.

The private hospitals were found charging extra for oxygen, medicines and tests even as these were part of the package notified by the UT Administration on April 24.

Earlier, the health authorities had started a probe into the complaints of overcharging by private hospitals. The complaints were primarily related to exorbitant rates of oxygen and remdesivir – a medicine used in the treatment of Covid-19 patients.

A helpline was also set up for patients who were overcharged for Covid-19 treatment. Some private hospitals have already initiated the process of refunding the money to patients.