Pvt hospitals violating govt norms on PPE cost, number

Nagpur: Private hospitals are not only charging more for room rates fixed by the government for Covid-19 patients, they are also violating the norms for per patient price and number of PPE kits. A yet-to-be discharged patient has already received a bill of Rs9.12 lakh over nine days — Rs1 lakh per day — even though the government’s highest rate is Rs9,000 per day for ICU bed with ventilator in isolation.
The government notification of August 31 has continued cap on charges for Covid and non-Covid patients by private hospitals. “Grievances regarding exorbitant money being charged by health care providers were received. Government notification issued earlier in this regard will be extended till November 30,” it said.
Hospitals can charge Rs600 (maximum) per patient per day for PPE kit for stay in a ward, and Rs1,200 per patient per day for stay in ICU, as per the notification. Any charge more than this towards PPE kit need to be justified.
TOI has bills of five patients from five different private hospitals. The bill of Rs9.12 lakh for 9 days shows the patient was charged Rs40,000 per day for bed in ICU for two days, and Rs20,000 per day for seven days, apart from consultation and other procedures.
The government had fixed Rs9,000 per day for ICU bed, which includes bed, consultation, nursing, blood tests, other investigations like X-ray, Echo, USG, catheterization, meals etc
The same patient was also charged for six PPE kits a day for a total of 54 over nine days at the rate of Rs1,200 per PPE kit.
Another private hospital recovered Rs1,500 per PPE kit from a patient admitted in ward. They charged for 26 PPE kits over five days. Total bill was Rs1.12 lakh for five days, at the rate of Rs22,440 per day despite the government rate being Rs4,000 per day for normal ward, and Rs7,500 per day for ICU without ventilator with isolation, including all procedures.
Another hospital charged for 72 PPE kits over 12 days, which means six per day. Here, the PPE kit rate was Rs600. Total bill was Rs4.55 lakh or Rs37,916 per day.
A patient in another hospital had to pay for 42 PPE kits over 10 days at the rate of Rs700 per kit.
Another hospital charged Rs600 per PPE kit, but levied bill for 42 PPE kits over 13 days. The hospital also charged for 28 N-95 masks at the rate of Rs200, and 28 face shields at the rate of Rs150. Total bill was Rs4.37 lakh, or Rs33,615 per day.
In the notification, the government had named collector for rural areas and municipal commissioner for city, to monitor and take action for violations by hospitals under The Epidemic Act, Disaster Management Act, Maharashtra Essential Service Maintenance Act, Mumbai Nursing Home Act, Bombay Nursing Home Registration Act and Bombay Public Trusts Act.
Taking cognisance of TOI reports earlier, the then civic chief Tukaram Mundhe had taken action against three private hospitals.
Chairman of NMC health consultative committee Virendra Kukreja said, “Action will be taken if any hospital overcharges patients. It is not only violation but also an inhuman act in the pandemic.”
Convener of Vidarbha Hospitals Association Dr Anup Marar said, “Private hospitals are already going through difficult time, forced to function as Covid hospitals within capped charges. IMA and VHA had proposed a rate list to government through divisional commissioner. We are yet to receive a reply on that. Recent guidelines to bill only one PPE per day is unscientific. Does the government desire to force hospitals to limit entry of staff in wards?”
Dr Marar added, “Staff members on duty have to change PPE kits whenever they go to the washroom or to have food etc. Additional specialist visits are required. We divide the PPEs used per day by number of patients.”
He described the government order as irrational and unethical, wherein government is expecting hospitals to decrease quality of care by reducing usage of PPEs and reduce number of trips to Covid section. “This will boomerang on patients. VHA has already filed petition in high court. Hospitals cannot function with tied hands. Technical medical experts should be consulted and doctors should be free to treat their patients without any fear,” he said.
Dr Marar said, “Medical fraternity is on defensive, and this is against the interest of patients. People believe in private hospitals, and rush here for quality care. Diluting quality in this manner is detrimental to society at large. Patients are still ignorant that even within government regulation, they are expected to shell out at least Rs2.5-Rs6 lakh in case of 14 days hospitalization.”
IN A NUTSHELL
GOVERNMENT RATES
Rs600 (maximum) | Per patient per day for PPE kit
Rs1,200 | Per patient per day for stay in ICU
Rs4,000 | Per day for normal ward
Rs7,500 | Per day for ICU without ventilator with isolation, including all procedures
Rs9,000 | Per day for ICU bed, consultation, nursing, blood tests, other investigations like X-ray, Echo, USG, catheterization, meals etc
PRIVATE HOSPITAL RATES
Different costs being applied by different hosts
Bed (per day) | Rs40,000, Rs20,000
PPEs | Use of 6 kits per day, Rs600-1,500 per kit