Directing all Private Hospitals in the district to prominently display GoP capped COVID 19 patient treatment charges, Deputy Commissioner Girish Dayalan informed that to prevent the private hospitals from exploiting the patient’s exigency State Government has fixed the charges for different category of hospitals according to the illness status of patient.The hospitals have also been advised to exhibit the name of the Nodal Officer for grievance redressal so that patients’ family/attendant may approach the concerned office and air their grievances.Reiterating strict action against hospitals overcharging COVID patients, he informed that very stringent action under Epidemic Diseases Act would be taken against erring hospitals. The government is empowered to shut the hospital or take control over it, if the need be.
In the meanwhile, FIR has been registered on Lifeline Hospital Zirakpur for over-charging and enquiry report has been forwarded to Medical Board to determine the extent of medical negligence and the subsequent punitive action.Pertinently, the Health Minister Punjab has announced that a state-level committee would soon conduct detailed audit of the treatment of COVID-19 patients done by private hospitals and has informed that anyone can file a complaint about fleecing on 104 helpline number of Health Department, Punjab and action would be taken immediately.The Nodal Officers for grievance redressal in the district are the SDMs of the respective subdivision namely Himanshu Jain (9533502245) for Kharar, Kuldeep Bawa(9815711006) for Derabassi and Jagdeep Sehgal(8727856083) for Mohali.The treatment charges for tertiary care(L3) in private Medical Colleges and hospitals without ventilator and with ventilator(invasive/non-invasive) for moderate to very sick patients range from Rs. 10,000 to Rs. 18000; for details the copy of GoP orders can be seen at the website of district Administration http://sasnagr.nic.in/