Govt rate list pasted outside Jhajjar hospitals to curb fleecing

Ravinder Saini
Tribune News Service
Jhajjar, May 6

Taking note of complaints of overcharging from Covid patients, the district administration on Thursday pasted boards outside all private hospitals, mentioning government-approved rates to be charged for the treatment.

A toll-free helpline number, 1950, has also been mentioned on the board for lodging complaint against any hospital charging more than the prescribed rates.

Sources said though the state government had fixed the rates, some private hospitals were still charging more than prescribed amount from Covid patients.

The government has fixed the rates at Rs 10,000 for isolation beds in the NABH and JCI accredited hospitals, Rs 15,000 for ICU beds without ventilators and Rs 18,000 per day for ICU beds with ventilators. In non-NABH accredited hospitals, the rates have been fixed at Rs 8,000 for isolation beds, Rs 13,000 for ICU beds without ventilators and Rs 15,000 per day for ICU beds with ventilators.

“Private hospitals are still demanding hefty charges in advance before admitting patients, who have no option but to pay up as facilities are running out of beds following a surge in the cases. The government should fix the rate of advance payment,” said Mukesh Kumar, a social activist.