Virinchi 2nd hospital to lose nod to treat Covid-19 cases in Hyderabad

HYDERABAD: Virinchi Hospitals became the second corporate hospital in the city to lose government permission to treat Covid-19 patients on Tuesday following complaints of excessive billing. Earlier, Deccan Hospital in Somajiguda faced the same fate on Monday for similar complaints.
The state government said that more private hospitals would face similar action as complaints against them by Covid-19 patients and their kin was rising. Director of health, Dr Srinivas Rao, said after several complaints against Virinchi Hospitals a probe revealed exorbitant pricing and improper billing.
Govt will act against more hosps: Eatala
The hospital will not be allowed to treat or admit any Covid-19 patient and those who are already admitted can be treated but according to tariff ceiling set by the government. Deccan Hospital in Somajiguda became the first hospital in the state to lose its permission for treatment of Covid-19 patients on Monday. An investigation by district medical and health office, Hyderabad, found the hospital was flouting tariff ceilings.
Health minister Eatala Rajender on Tuesday warned private hospitals of severe action if they don’t mend ways. Addressing a media conference, he said there were thousands of complaints over exorbitant bills.
“We have told them to approach the situation with a humanitarian outlook. But even after this, some private hospitals are not changing their attitude and we will take action on some more in a day or two,” he said. He said cost of medicine will be just ₹1,000 and even if a patient needed oxygen for 10 days, it costs just ₹2,000. “The hospitals should charge only ₹9,000 per day.” He found fault for sending serious patients or those who cannot afford their prices to Gandhi Hospital. “...Private hospitals are driving them away,” he said.