VADODARA: In a major respite to the citizens, the Vadodara Municipal Corporation (VMC) has reduced the Covid-19 hospitalisation
charges in private hospitals. The decision was taken after taking the association of private hospitals in the city, Setu, into confidence.
The decision was taken after a meeting of elected representatives of the city, VMC officials and officer on special duty
Vinod Rao. Setu representatives also held an online meeting with Rao before giving consent to the new rates.
Since May last year, designated
Covid hospitals in the city have been divided into two categories — Segment (I) has the hospitals that do not have an ICU while Segment (II) has hospitals with ICU. Earlier the charges for normal ward beds and high dependency unit (HDU) beds varied as per the category of the hospital.
It has now been decided that the charges of a bed in a normal ward will be capped at Rs 4,500 in both the segments. Similarly, the charges for a bed in HDU have been capped at Rs 6,000. ICU beds without ventilators in Segment II have a capping of Rs 13,500 per day. Similarly, the highest amount that can be charged for a bed with ventilators in private hospitals now stands at Rs 16,000.
The rates include meals, cost of PPE kits, masks and routine medicines that include antibiotics, HCQ, ivermectin, zinc, multivitamins and others oral drugs. The patient will have to bear additional charges of medicines like remdesivir, flavipiravir, tocilizumab and others. The charges do not include those for super-specialists, but these have also been capped at Rs 1,000 per visit.
To increase beds and ensure that there is no discrepancy in billing due to room category, it has been decided that the hospitals will do away with beds in semi-special and special categories. Setu president Dr Krutesh Shah said that the hospitals needed to do their bit in these times of pandemic. “The decision will benefit the common man. Hospitals can earn a little less in this time of crisis,” he said.
Minister of state for Narmada and urban housing Yogesh Patel said that in case patients are overcharged, they can complain to the VMC. He added that a team of chartered accountants would also be roped in to look into the complaints. Rao said that people should avoid paying cash to hospitals so that if there are any grievances in the future, there is evidence of payment.