Kalyan-Dombivli civic body recovers Rs 3.3 lakh from private hospital charging excessive Covid-19 bill

KALYAN: Looking at several private Covid-19 hospitals complaint that they are charging higher bills from patients, the Kalyan-Dombivli Municipal Corporation (KDMC) which recently has formed a flying squad to take action against such private hospitals. In a fresh action, the cicivc body has issued notices to three hospitals and have recovered Rs 3.3 lakh from one of them, who has charged excessive bill from Covid-19 patient's relative who died during treatment.
The KDMC team after recovering same money on Wednesday has given same money to patient's relative.
Kalyan-Dombivli, where Covid-19 patients numbers have reached over 17,000, have made time up with 24 private hospitals and have asked them to charge patients as per government's rate card issued for Covid patients.
However, there were allegations that several hospitals are charging higher bills from patients. KDMC commissioner Dr Vijay Suryawanshi had formed a squad to look after complaints of patients.
Vinay Kulkarni, who heads the squad said, "Recently, we had received complaints from relative of Covid patients who has died during treatment saying that hospital charged Rs 4.8 lakh from them. Acting on complaint, we verified charged bill and we found that the hospital charged excess bill of Rs 3.36 lakh from patient's relative which we recovered from hospital and handed it to their relative".
The team have also received complaints against two others hospitals and notices have been issued to same.
The KDMC has also decided to post their one civic staffs at each 24 private Covid hospitals in city during working hours.
Madhavi Phofale, public relations officer of KDMC, said, "These employees will be present at the designated hospital during office hours to discharge the patient, verify the bill charged by the hospital and ensure that the patient is given a reasonable bill". Phofale also said, "The employees will report about overcharging of bill with squad who after verification will take action in matter".
The KDMC has informed about same to all private Covid hospitals.