Rajasthan: Covid-19 patients can dial helpline if private hospitals overcharge

JAIPUR: While allowing private hospitals to conduct Covid-19 treatment, the state government has said that it will keep an eye on them to ensure that they are not overcharging the patients.
The move will prove beneficial for Covid-19 patients who can get treatment in the hospital of their choice.
“In these troubled times, it is the duty of any responsible government to provide relief to the people. By capping rates, it has been ensured that private hospitals do not unnecessarily overcharge innocent public. While most private hospitals have supported and supplemented the government efforts to manage the pandemic, some unscrupulous ones might try to exploit the situation. If that happens, anyone can complain on the state helplines so that necessary action be taken against the defaulters,” said Rohit Kumar Singh, additional chief secretary (health).
The state government had issued a notification on June 20 capping the rates for general ward per day at Rs 2,000 and for ICU with ventilator at Rs 4,000.
The private hospitals have been asked not to refer the Covid-19 patients to other hospitals especially government hospitals. The government has appealed to the private hospitals not to deny treatment to Covid-19 patients or suspected cases.
Till few days ago, only two private hospitals in Jaipur were providing Covid-19 treatment apart from government-run SMS Hospital, RUHS Hospital and Jaipuria Hospital. But now, except for RUHS Hospital all the other government hospitals have been declared as non-Covid hospitals.
Therefore, the government has allowed the private hospitals to treat Covid-19 patients. “Earlier, when a patient admitted to a private hospital was found infected with Covid-19, the private hospitals would immediately shift them to government hospitals for treatment. Now, we have asked them to provide treatment at the rates fixed by the state government,” said Dr Narrottam Sharma, chief medical health officer (Jaipur-I).
He said that if a patient is admitted to a private hospital with symptoms of influenza-like illness and later tests positive for Covid-19, he/she will get treatment in the same hospital. Private hospitals cannot force patients to go to other hospital for treatment.