Capping treatment cost not enough, vigil needed too

What measures should the UT take to ensure that private hospitals don’t fleece covid patients?

It is a criminal breach of trust

Although the government has fixed the rate of treatment and tests, private hospitals overcharge helpless patients. Ambulances are charging Rs12,000 to Rs25,000 to take patients upto 7 to 8 km. To stop fleecing of people display government approved rates for treatment and tests outside and on reception counters of private hospitals. Overcharging must be treated as criminal breach of trust. Strict action should be taken against hospitals indulging in such practice.

Capt Amar Jeet (retd), Mohali

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Hospitals Must have transparent system

It appears some private hospitals in tricity are spoiling image of the noble profession by overcharging Covid patients. Such hospitals should de-empanelled by insurance companies, CGHS and ECHS. The Administration should randomly monitor and audit hospitals bills with the help of the Indian Medical Association and other independent agencies. Besides, hospitals should have a simple transparent system for patients and their kin to avoid any misunderstanding in bills given at the time of their discharge.

Col TBS Bedi (retd), Mohali

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QUESTION

As the board exams have been cancelled, what criteria should be adopted by the CBSE for evaluating Class XII students?

Suggestions in not more than 70 words can be sent to [email protected]

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Affected persons left with little choice

Rates for various categories treatment have been fixed in consultation with private hospitals. Still overcharging Covid patients is rampant in the UT and adjoining cities. A Covid patient is left with no choice, but to agree to arbitrary demands of hospital concerned on one pretext or other as getting treatment is important at the crucial hour. The Administration should ensure that gullible and helpless patients do not suffer monetarily in these difficult times. Strict action, which acts as a deterrent, should be taken against erring hospitals.

Dr Dinesh Kumar Verma, Panchkula.

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Check records, refund excess charges

Overcharging Covid patients during pandemic is a sin. Any complaint received by the UT Administration in this regard should be pursued seriously. The Administration should depute Health Department officials along with the police force to check records of private hospital against which complaints have been received. If found overcharging, hospital concerned should be warned and instructed to refund excess charges to patient.

MR Bhateja, Nayagaon

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Little being done to stop loot of patients

Capping of Covid treatment cost is a big lie of the Centre and the UT Administration. Reality is doctors have become dacoits and hospital staff arrogant and irresponsible towards patients. The Centre is doing nothing to stop this loot. The UT Administration should blacklist hospitals or cancel their licence if they don't follow official guidelines.

Vijay Malia, Chandigarh

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Curb black marketing of medicines, oxygen

Strict measures should be taken to curb black marketing of medicines and oxygen in the UT. The Administration should also take legal action against vendors supplying cylinders with less quantity of oxygen and charging exorbitant rates. A committee must conduct detailed audit of treatment charges paid by Covid patients at private hospitals.

Jassica Goyal, Chandigarh

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Check bills issued to patients at random

Much has been heard about private hospitals fleecing Covid patients. The Administration should fix charges for consultation, doctors and sisters room visit, tests, oxygen cylinders, medicines and room rent after consultations with hospital authorities. Hospitals should display all charges at notice boards on their premises. The Health Department can conduct random checking of bills paid by Covid patients at private hospitals.

NPS Sohal, Chandigarh

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Issue Warning to cancel lease

Most private hospitals designated to treat Covid patients have taken the present crisis inhumanly and as an opportunity to 'loot' people with impunity. Some courts have risen to the occasion to rescue public from it by capping charges for various services provided by private hospitals and made their display mandatory. Only punitive measures like revoking permission to treat Covid patients, cautioning them of cancelling their leases and grievance redressal mechanism can stop fleecing of patients.

Sunil Khanna, Chandigarh

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Upload discharge copies on admn site

Surprise checking by vigilance teams at private hospitals will not give the latter chance to mislead and fleece Covid patients. Generation of three invoice copies of patient's discharge (first for patient, second to be uploaded on the UT Administration site and third for hospital) should be mandatory. The Administration must scrutinise these invoice copies and stop looting of patients by private hospitals.

Nitin Sud, Panchkula

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Minimum penalty should be Rs10 lakh

The UT Administration issues guidelines to all private hospitals to fix charges for all services from time to time. There should be strict punishment for overcharging and lingering on treatment intentionally. For the first offence, there should be a fine of Rs10 lakh. License of the hospital concerned should be cancelled for repeated offence.

KC Rana, Chandigarh

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Fix upper limit of treatment charges

The UT Administration must check the rate list of treatment in private hospitals regularly. The treatment cost must be uploaded on the Administration website. This will bring competition among hospitals to treat patients. The UT must fix an upper limit of charges for all sorts of treatment like the MRP in the case of consumer goods.

Antra Rakheja, Chandigarh

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An opportunity to fill coffers

Some private hospitals are using Covid crisis as an opportunity to fill their coffers by fleecing patients admitted for Covid treatment. Their attitude is deplorable as charges for medication and treatment are unrelated to normal rates. The UT Administration has not yet taken any punitive action against erring hospitals. The least it could do is to send legal notice for resorting to unfair business practices with a stern warning for suspending their empanelment to treat Covid patients.

SC Luthra, Chandigarh

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Heavy fine will deter hospitals

Despite strict instructions from the UT authorities private hospitals continue to overcharge Covid patients on one pretext or other. These hospitals are not afraid of the consequences as they are just asked to refund extra charges or reduce bill as per their convenience in case the matter comes to light. Not all patients fight back over extra charges paid them as they are already hard pressed. Only heavy fine for fleecing Covid patients will deter private hospitals from indulging in this malpractice.

Jaswant Singh, Chandigarh

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Let Centre minimise treatment cost

It’s duty of the UT Administration to save lives. Citizens should not be left to fend for themselves during the ongoing pandemic. The UT should have created required facilities for pandemic in a pre-planned way. There is lot of money in PM Care and Disaster Management funds, which can be used for treating Covid patients. A patient should not be asked to arrange funds. No citizen should die because of lack of funds in a disaster situation. Any hospital exploiting the situation should be booked. Let the Centre minimise treatment cost to tackle pandemic.

Dr Virendar Sarwal, Mohali

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Panel should check hospital functioning

The UT Administration should set up a committee to look into functioning of private hospitals. Charges for each service/treatment should be fixed. License of hospital fleecing patients should be suspended for a specific period. Hefty fine can be imposed to deter hospitals from overcharging Covid patients. An app/social media account/website can be launched for filing complainants regarding overcharging for early redressal and action against erring hospital.

Abhilasha Gupta, Mohali

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Don’t hesitate in submitting complaint

It is sad that private hospitals are flouting norms and overcharging patients during Covid crisis. They are taking undue advantage of the situation. No doubt these private hospitals work for profit motive only, but it is their moral duty to help people in this hour of need. Managements of such hospitals must come forward to help masses. The UT Administration must keep a check on private hospitals. Stringent action be taken against hospitals following the practice. People should not hesitate to complain against erring hospitals so that timely action can be taken.

Bir Devinder Singh Bedi, Chandigarh

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Appeal in court may provide relief

Private hospitals are treated on a par with the hospitality sector, where rates are charged according to the star ranking. People are facing dark realities of crumbled healthcare system. The committee formed by the UT Administration to look into overcharging of Covid patients will only issue warnings to a few small hospitals. Only those patients, who appeal in court or tribunal against hospitals, may get some relief.

Suresh Verma, Chandigarh

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Administration ought to be proactive

Many private hospitals in the city continue to fleece Covid patients taking advantage of the pandemic situation. As there is no transparency in billing, hospitals are free to inflate treatment charges of Covid patients. The UT has formed a team to audit hospital bills and deal with patients grievances. In some cases, money has been refunded to patients. The authorities ought to be proactive to stop fleecing of Covid patients.

Anureet Dhami, Zirakpur

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Pool resources to fight Covid pandemic

It’s disgusting that private hospitals are charging huge amount from Covid patients for treatment. During this difficult time all should pool resources to fight pandemic. Private hospitals must follow some ethics. They should not act as money minting health institutions. The UT should strictly regulate treatment charges of private hospitals. Strict and exemplary punishment should be given to erring hospitals.

Paramjeet Singh, Chandigarh

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Display charges at hospital entrance

Strict action must be taken by the UT Administration against private hospitals overcharging from coronavirus patients amid such crisis. Charges for ICU beds, consultation and medicines must be fixed for Covid patients by the Health Department. Private hospitals should offer a basic package for the Covid treatment at reasonable rates. Treatment and other charges should be displayed at the entrance of all private hospitals.

Anita Tandon, Kharar

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Invest in private healthcare sector

Due to less Budget allocation to health sector there will be overcharging from Covid patients in a pandemic of such magnitude. To prevent private hospitals from fleecing patients, it’s necessary for government to invest into private healthcare sector. If private hospitals are not included in fight against Covid the mortality rate would be unimaginable. Also, government hospitals should be provided appropriate infrastructure, resources and staff.

Vaibhav Garg, Chandigarh

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Right to audit balance sheets

Since the UT Administration provides land at reasonable rate to private hospitals so, it has right to audit their balance sheets from time to time. Also, balance sheet of the hospital concerned can be uploaded on its website. It’s the common man, who does not find bed, ventilator or oxygen in government hospitals, complains of overcharging and not the elite class.

Savita Kuthiala, Chandigarh

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High charges for more services

At present, there is utter confusion about charges for treating Covid patients. If a private hospital spends more than any government hospital to get its supplies, it has to charge more. Also, if private hospital is providing additional services or facilities then higher charges are justified as people are willing to pay. Patients and their kin should be aware so that they don’t pay extra for treatment. Regular audit of all hospitals, whether private or government should be conducted.

Bubby Soin, Chandigarh

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Open more hospitals

As the government is unable to open more hospitals in proportion to the growing population, private hospitals have mushroomed in all cities whether big or small. Government hospitals are not able to give proper attention and hygienic atmosphere to patients. More hospitals with healthy conditions should be opened. No doubt some private hospitals are good, but that doesn’t entitle them to exploit Covid patients. License of erring hospitals should be cancelled. The UT Administration should have strict control over functioning of private hospitals.

Dr Gurdev Singh, Mohali

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No feedback for admn

Even after fixing charges for treatment private hospitals are fleecing patients. Private hospitals take advantage of no feedback to the Administration about charges paid. Besides they gain from stress on patients’ attendants, who end up paying more for treatment. They flout norms with impunity. Defaulters should be given exemplary punishment. Charges for treatment should be displayed at prominent places on hospital premises. Bills of patients admitted to private hospitals should be audited.

Wg Cdr Jasbir Minhas (retd), Mohali

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Refund excess amount charged from patients

Private hospitals are making money instead of providing good services during pandemic. In one case, an attendant arranged oxygen cylinders from outside private hospital, but still the patient had to pay charges. Hospitals procured remdesivir for Rs1,300 from the UT healthcare authorities and charged Rs4,000 from patients for the drug. To stop fleecing of patients the Administration should fix charges for treatment and display these on hospital premises. Instructions should be given to refund excess amount charged from patients. Vidya Sagar Garg, Panchkula

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Form teams to check malpractices

Overcharging Covid patients can be controlled by constituting teams of different departments to keep a check on private hospitals, starting a helpline number and providing email to lodge complaints in this regard and rewarding person, who passes information of such prevalent malpractices to the Administration. Upper limit of various treatment charges should be fixed by the Administration.

Avinash Goyal, Chandigarh

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No authority to check loot

Patients admitted in private hospitals have to pay bills for treatment running into lakhs. There is no authority to check looting of patients. Private hospitals procure remdesivir from the government for Rs1,800 (per injection) and sell it in black market for Rs40,000. If such charges are proved the Administration should cancel licence of the hospital concerned. Like sand mafia there is “hospital mafia”, which stops the authorities concerned to initiate proceedings against wrongdoers.

Gurpreet Malhotra, Chandigarh

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increase number of government hospitals

There are not many government hospitals. So, Covid patients are take to private hospitals, where they have to pay extra for treatment. The Administration should fix charges for every treatment. These charges should be displayed at the hospital reception and in rooms. Licence of the hospital indulging in overcharging Covid patients should be cancelled and fine imposed.

Sukhwant Bhullar, Chandigarh

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Don’t take advantage of helpless people

Some private hospitals are overcharge Covid patients. The Health Department should conduct raids, audit hospital records and seize them if irregularities are found. Flying squads comprising medical officers should keep a check on hospitals. People can complain about overcharging on the Health Department helpline number 104. Private hospitals shouldn’t exploit helpless people in this tough time.

Simran Sidhu, Chandigarh

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Upload bill details online

Doctors like lawyers are by far the richest professionals. Modern private hospitals are corporate entities swelling profits being their ‘raison d’etre’. They thrive on fishing in troubled waters, pandemic pangs and misery of their patients/clients betraying trust/faith notwithstanding. The Administration has fixed charges for tests and services, but fleecing of Covid patients continues. Hospitals overcharging patients should be penalised heavily. An empowered committee should scrutinise hospital bills at random. Item wise details of bills above Rs50,000 should be mandatorily available online.

Lalit Bharadwaj, Panchkula

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Publish fixed charges for treatment

The UT must publish fixed charges for the Covid treatment at private hospitals. An authority should be designated for examining complaints/grievances regarding overcharging by private hospitals. Non discriminatory access to all public health facilities, adequate medical treatment and affordable charges are non-negotiable. They are part of the constitutionally guaranteed right to health under Article 21.

Sanjay Chopra, Mohali

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Form committee to prepare rate list

A panel of the administrators of private and government hospitals must be formed to prepare rate list (package) for the treatment of Covid cases. A copy of the rate list must be pasted at the entrance gate of each hospital and given to patient before treatment. The Administration should check facilities and charges mentioned in the lists. Licence of private hospitals not following rate/package list, approved by committee, must be cancelled.

Sumesh Kumar Badhwar, Mohali

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Time to take an urgent call

There is no denying the fact that certain private hospitals are overcharging Covid patients with the scantiest fear of the law. The flurry of complaints received by the Chandigarh Administration in this leaves nothing to speculation. The UT has to take an urgent call to ensure that private hospitals don’t fleece people. Such private hospitals should be blacklisted and deregistered. There should be a jail term for those involved in fleecing gullible patients.

Ramesh K Dhiman, Chandigarh

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Dirty tactics of private hospitals

It is shocking that some doctors in private hospitals are fleecing Covid patients. Doctors are held in high esteem and worshiped like God, but when patients are betrayed by them, they are hurt. When persons in high position indulge in unethical activities, they should be given minimum 10 times or even more punishment than an ordinary accused. Doctors in private hospitals should remember that their respect in the public is of much more value than money.

TR Goyal, Chandigarh

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Common man’s bane

The commercialisation of the private healthcare sector is a bane for the common man. Many private hospitals have fleeced Covid patients. Many of them have hoarded essential medicines, oxygen and billed helpless and desperate patients exorbitantly. There is rampant violation of the government norms by private hospitals. The Administration has been caught napping on this front.

Dr Anil Kumar Yadav, Chandigarh

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Private hospitals should be disciplined

Strict action should be taken against private hospitals resorting overcharging Covid patients. All hospitals should display the approved rates at prominent places on their premises. People should also be exhorted not to pay more than prevailing rates. All cases of overcharging should be reported to the authorities concerned. Surprise checking should also be conducted at hospitals and overcharged amount be refunded to patients.

Bharat Bhushan Sharma, Chandigarh

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Ensure guidelines are followed

It is unfortunate that several private hospitals are fleecing hapless Covid patients during these testing times of pandemic. The UT Administration should ensure that guidelines are followed strictly by hospitals. It should be mandatory for hospitals to display list of charges at the reception and also handover a copy to patients at the time of admission. Strict administrative and criminal action should be initiated against hospitals for any violation.

RPS Chopra, Chandigarh

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Authorities must cross-check bills

Some private hospitals have crossed all limits and started encashing compelling moments of Covid patients whether any of them survives or not. The Administration needs to be strict on this issue. It should be mandatory for private hospitals to display rate list for the treatment of Covid patients. Bills prepared by private hospitals should be cross checked by the health authorities of the Administration before patient or his/her kin makes payment.

Balbir Singh Batra, Mohali

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Patients’ kin not aware of charges

Some private hospitals are fleecing patients by charging above the rates fixed by the government. Their relatives/attendants are not aware of the cost of medicines and services provided to them. They are asked to pay in advance. There should be pre and post-audit of medicines and services provided to Covid patients. The UT Administration should constitute a committee headed by a doctor to check bills, get the overcharged amount refunded and take stringent action against hospitals fleecing on the pretext of Covid treatment.

Col Balbir Mathauda (retd), Chandigarh

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Using pandemic to boost profits

Undoubtedly, it is a matter of great concern that some private hospitals are not sparing the general public even in the ongoing pandemic. They are, in fact, using this difficult time as a good opportunity for boosting their profit margins by overcharging Covid patients. The Administration should, therefore, act tough against all such private hospitals and conduct regular audit of their accounts and random inspection and invite complaints from aggrieved patients or their kin.

Hardeep Singh Slaich, Mohali

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Time to serve humanity

Covid patients are being asked to pay above rates fixed by the government. Stringent action should be taken against private hospitals overcharging patients suffering from the disease. The UT should deploy auditors to check this practice. All hospital bills of Covid patients should scanned by the Administration. This is the time to rise above all odds and serve humanity.

Charu Malhotra, Mohali