Private Hospitals In Hyderabad Fined For Overcharging Covid-19 Patients

Last updated on February 14th, 2023 at 01:05 pm

Despite the government fixing rates for hospital treatment towards the Covid-19 virus, Hyderabad hospitals have been charging exorbitantly. Several have been fined for overcharging and harassing patients.

The Telangana government has now issued orders to another private hospital Virinchi Hospital from offering treatment to Covid-19 patients. This was the second case of such a severe action taken against a private hospital, the first one just 24 hours before hand taken against Deccan Hospital over ‘surplus billing’.

Such hospitals stand to have their registration cancelled, if they do not adhere to the government set norms of pricing for providing treatment to Covid-19 patients. The government has warned both hospitals to execute the backlog of patients of the capped rates and that they will not be allowed to take in any more new patients of Covid-19.

After receiving many complaints from across the nation, the Centre had finally put a capping on the rates for the convenience of those seeking treatment from private hospitals. This also included specified rates applicable per day for various treatment packages provided by any facility such as regular beds, Intensive Care Unit (ICU) without ventilation and ICU with ventilation.

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The particular posh hospital of Banjara Hills is said to have overcharged many patients. Following a series of complaints against the hospital, an inquiry was conducted and the hospital was found guilty of violations. The action was taken under the Telangana Allopathic Private Medical Care Establishments (Registration & Regulation) Act-2002. Meanwhile the hospitals feel that they are being cornered and don’t want to be only one to be singled out, because, actually, most hospitals are overcharging their patients.  Both have said that they will be contesting the ruling by the government in the state courts.

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