Tribune News Service

Patiala, May 21

Amid allegations of fleecing Covid patients, the district administration today warned private hospitals of stringent action against guilty under the Epidemic Diseases Act.

In a warning to Covid dedicated private hospitals, the Patiala Deputy Commissioner (DC), Kumar Amit, said, “If a hospital is found exploiting any coronavirus patient, the district administration is empowered to shut or take control of it.”

The DC further clarified that private hospitals were not supposed to take advantage of any patient’s compulsion. The government would be left with no other option, but to take drastic action against defaulting hospital, the DC added.

He claimed that most doctors, government and private alike, had set a good example of serving people wholeheartedly during the Covid crisis.

There, however, were some black sheep in the system, which had been fleecing patients and tarnishing image of the entire medical profession, said the DC.

It has been learnt that many private hospitals, reportedly, have been charging a huge amount from Covid patients for admission. Besides, a private hospital in the city charges Rs1,050 for the Covid RT–PCR test, which the government has capped at Rs450.

The state and district-level committees would soon be conducting a detailed audit of Covid treatment done by private hospitals, the DC added.

“Anyone can file a complaint about overcharging by any private hospital on the Health Department helpline number 104 and Covid helpline numbers 0175-2350550 and 6284357500,” said the DC.