KOLKATA: The Bengal government will instruct private hospitals to standardise fees and charges for Covid patients, chief minister Mamata Banerjee said on Wednesday after concern was raised over the high cost of treatment at private facilities at an all-party meeting held at Nabanna.
The CM asked the chief secretary to issue fresh guidelines to private healthcare providers even as she extended the lockdown in the state till July 31.
“The government had issued guidelines to private hospitals earlier. They haven’t complied with it. I would ask the chief secretary and the health department to issue fresh instructions asking private hospitals to standardise fees/charges for Covid treatment. I have reports that people are paying through the nose. This is the time to give service to people,” Banerjee said.
The chief minister was also on the same page with Congress leader Pradip Bhattacharya, who drew her attention to the plight of non-Covid patients.
“Many hospitals are refusing patients. Some of them need life-saving surgeries. Hospitals can’t keep patients with critical heart ailments waiting. Give them treatment and then plan for Covid intervention,” the CM said, urging healthcare providers to take more care of patients at this critical juncture.
“A little more care, timely medical intervention and mental support could have saved many who died of Covid,” she said.
On grounds of the same “public service” the CM also appealed to private bus syndicates to not press for a fare hike. “I admit that transport is a problem. Suburban train and metro services are off. I would appeal to bus operators to not press for a fare revision despite the hike in diesel prices. This is not the time to make a hard bargain,” she said. The demand-supply mismatch in the transport sector is likely to continue with the state extending the lockdown for another month. .
On the issue of pending board examinations, the state will wait for the Supreme Court’s directive on Thursday before firming up its plans. “Pending CBSE and ICSE board examinations will be held as per SC directive. The education minister has announced the HS examination schedule. We are keeping a watch on the SC directive and will hold the pending HS examination accordingly, maintaining social-distancing,” the CM said.
The CM asked the chief secretary to issue fresh guidelines to private healthcare providers even as she extended the lockdown in the state till July 31.
“The government had issued guidelines to private hospitals earlier. They haven’t complied with it. I would ask the chief secretary and the health department to issue fresh instructions asking private hospitals to standardise fees/charges for Covid treatment. I have reports that people are paying through the nose. This is the time to give service to people,” Banerjee said.
The chief minister was also on the same page with Congress leader Pradip Bhattacharya, who drew her attention to the plight of non-Covid patients.
“Many hospitals are refusing patients. Some of them need life-saving surgeries. Hospitals can’t keep patients with critical heart ailments waiting. Give them treatment and then plan for Covid intervention,” the CM said, urging healthcare providers to take more care of patients at this critical juncture.
“A little more care, timely medical intervention and mental support could have saved many who died of Covid,” she said.
On grounds of the same “public service” the CM also appealed to private bus syndicates to not press for a fare hike. “I admit that transport is a problem. Suburban train and metro services are off. I would appeal to bus operators to not press for a fare revision despite the hike in diesel prices. This is not the time to make a hard bargain,” she said. The demand-supply mismatch in the transport sector is likely to continue with the state extending the lockdown for another month. .
On the issue of pending board examinations, the state will wait for the Supreme Court’s directive on Thursday before firming up its plans. “Pending CBSE and ICSE board examinations will be held as per SC directive. The education minister has announced the HS examination schedule. We are keeping a watch on the SC directive and will hold the pending HS examination accordingly, maintaining social-distancing,” the CM said.
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