In the latest update, the Karnataka High Court has directed the government to publish advertisements in newspapers regarding the procedures to file complaints against private hospitals for excess fees during Covid 19 treatment.
Karnataka High Court Asks About Actions Taken By The Government
As per the reports, the High Court has asked the government to not only put information on the newspaper advertisements but also update the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP). The aim is to facilitate people who were charged much higher amounts for Covid 19 treatments by the private hospitals.
Chief Justice Ritu Raj Awasthi who headed the divisional bench took up the inquiry amidst multiple petitions submitted regarding the Covid 19 management on Monday. He asked the government to provide information about the actions they have taken on the private hospitals which were accused of charging excess fees and violated the government guidelines for treating the Covid 19 patients.
Bench To Return The Excess Money Charged
As of now, the bench has directed the government and BBMP to furnish details of the higher amounts charged and for the same to be returned to the families, within the next time of hearing. The counsel for the government has submitted to the court that they have given the list of hospitals that have charged excess fee.
Reports suggest that the private hospitals have collected Rs 1,98,83,498 excess fees from the patients. So far, the government has returned Rs 32,22,352 to the patients or their families.
The government has set up Suvarna Arogya Surakha Trust helpline to received the complaints regarding the matter. The government had fixed Rs 10000 for general ward, Rs 15000 for ICU without ventilator, Rs 25000 for ICU with ventilator facility and Rs 12000 for HDU.
The government informed that if the hospitals charged more than the prescribed amount or refuse to treat the Covid 19 patient(s), they’d be booked under the Karnataka Private Medical Establishment Act and the National Disaster Management Act.
They had collected Rs 1,55,91,845 excess fee for treatment of Covid patients who were admitted to private hospitals directly and they have made repayment of Rs 10, 42,339 to patients. ‘Suvarna Arogya Suraksha Trust’ helpline set up to receive complaints on this matter has registered 1,325 cases so far, he informed the court.
The government has fixed Rs 10,000 for general ward, Rs 15,000 for ICU without ventilator, Rs 12,000 for HDU and Rs 25,000 for ICU with ventilator facility. The government has stated that, if private hospitals charge more than the prescribed amount and in case of refusal for treatment of Covid patients, they will be booked under the Karnataka Private Medical Establishment (KPME) Act and National Disaster Management Act (NDMA).
