MUMBAI: Despite a cap on treatment and bed rates, several mid-level city hospitals have been found charging excessively under new heads such as patient hygiene, Covid staff management and fumigation. Amounts under these heads range from a few hundreds to a couple of thousands per day and make up 15-20% of the bills.
A 48-year-old patient, who recently underwent treatment in a 100-bed hospital in an eastern suburb, told TOI he was billed Rs 2,000 per day for ‘management charges Covid’, Rs 1,000 for patient hygiene and Rs 300 for fumigation. His overall bill totalled nearly Rs 4 lakh for a fortnight, which did not involve much critical care. “No explanation was given about what these charges exactly meant,” said a relative who did not wish to pursue matters with the hospital.
In another case, 30-year-old Rahul Ahire, who had already lodged complaints over overcharging for PPEs and consumables, alleged how a Mulund-based hospital where he underwent treatment for 11 days, made him pay Rs 18,000 for ‘patient biomedical hygiene’. The sum was Rs 2,000 in ICU and Rs 1,000 in general ward. “There was also a daily sum of Rs 3,000 charged under Covid staff management in the ICU. I was billed Rs 30,000 under this sub-head.”
BJP leader Kirit Somaiya said some hospitals are levying a surcharge too. “We have written to the management of D Y Patil Hospital in Navi Mumbai for levying a surcharge of 9%,” he said.
On May 21, the state came out with a notification capping charges for Covid and non-Covid treatment.
Hospitals, though, have justified some charges, saying the amount fixed by the government was not based on realistic computation. “Overcharging is a misnomer. Hospitals are faced with massive spending for disinfection, PPE kits and increased salary demand from staff. Small to bigger hospitals in Mumbai are spending Rs 2 lakh to Rs 10 lakh on disinfection alone. Doctors’ salaries have doubled in some cases for Covid duty. The state has capped the bed charges at Rs 4,500, but is that a sustainable sum?” said Dr Deepak Baid, who represents the Association of Medical Consultants. He said an earlier BMC notification of March had claimed losses would be reimbursed but that clause disappeared in May.
BMC’s additional municipal commissioner Suresh Kakani said complaints are being scrutinized by auditors. Dr Gautam Bhansali, chief coordinator for private hospitals, said they haven’t got complaints from big hospitals.
A 48-year-old patient, who recently underwent treatment in a 100-bed hospital in an eastern suburb, told TOI he was billed Rs 2,000 per day for ‘management charges Covid’, Rs 1,000 for patient hygiene and Rs 300 for fumigation. His overall bill totalled nearly Rs 4 lakh for a fortnight, which did not involve much critical care. “No explanation was given about what these charges exactly meant,” said a relative who did not wish to pursue matters with the hospital.
In another case, 30-year-old Rahul Ahire, who had already lodged complaints over overcharging for PPEs and consumables, alleged how a Mulund-based hospital where he underwent treatment for 11 days, made him pay Rs 18,000 for ‘patient biomedical hygiene’. The sum was Rs 2,000 in ICU and Rs 1,000 in general ward. “There was also a daily sum of Rs 3,000 charged under Covid staff management in the ICU. I was billed Rs 30,000 under this sub-head.”
BJP leader Kirit Somaiya said some hospitals are levying a surcharge too. “We have written to the management of D Y Patil Hospital in Navi Mumbai for levying a surcharge of 9%,” he said.
On May 21, the state came out with a notification capping charges for Covid and non-Covid treatment.
Hospitals, though, have justified some charges, saying the amount fixed by the government was not based on realistic computation. “Overcharging is a misnomer. Hospitals are faced with massive spending for disinfection, PPE kits and increased salary demand from staff. Small to bigger hospitals in Mumbai are spending Rs 2 lakh to Rs 10 lakh on disinfection alone. Doctors’ salaries have doubled in some cases for Covid duty. The state has capped the bed charges at Rs 4,500, but is that a sustainable sum?” said Dr Deepak Baid, who represents the Association of Medical Consultants. He said an earlier BMC notification of March had claimed losses would be reimbursed but that clause disappeared in May.
BMC’s additional municipal commissioner Suresh Kakani said complaints are being scrutinized by auditors. Dr Gautam Bhansali, chief coordinator for private hospitals, said they haven’t got complaints from big hospitals.
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