‘Don’t charge exorbitantly’

BHAGALPUR: The Bhagalpur chapter of Indian Medical Association (IMA) has appealed to the doctors, pathologists and radiologists not to charge the Covid patients exorbitantly.
The appeal was made after the IMA received information about some nursing homes, radiologists, pathologists, ambulance service providers and medical shops charging exorbitantly and taking advantage of the traumatic situations of patients and their families.
Dr Sandeep Lal, president of Bhagalpur chapter of IMA and head of forensic medicine and toxicology department at Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College and Hospital (JLNMCH), told this newspaper on Tuesday: “We have appealed to the medical fraternity and related healthcare service providers to make sacrifices and take more humanitarian approach by lowering their charges to bare minimum for Covid patients and others in view of overall grim situation.”
He added: “Perhaps, Bhagalpur region is the first in the country where doctors, radiologists, pathologist and others have offered to reduce their charges. Four radiologists and their diagnostic centres have reduced the charges by 40% following our appeal.”
Similarly, others have also come forward to serve the needy in the wake of IMA’s appeal. “We had to come forward after receiving information and reports about some unscrupulous healthcare service providers, including a handful of clinics, nursing homes, diagnostic centres, ambulance service providers, medicine and surgical shops charging exorbitantly while taking advantage of the situation,” Dr Lal said.