Chandigarh, May 25

The UT Health Department issued show-cause notices to private hospitals in the city today for allegedly fleecing Covid patients during the treatment.

The department has sought answers from the private hospitals treating Covid patients following complaints in writing to the Director, Health Services, and on the helpline. The hospitals have been asked why they did not follow the package prescribed by the government for the treatment of Covid patients. All hospitals have been asked to submit a reply within a week.

The hospitals found overcharging are Eden, Healing Touch, Apollo, Kare Partner and Mukut Hospital.

The notice seeks on what basis the patients were overcharged and why medicines were given at rates higher than the market rate.

The Director, Health Services, Dr Amandeep Kang said the hospitals had been given a week’s time to respond to the notice. “We had earlier asked the hospitals to refund the excess amount charged from the patients,” she said.

According to the complaints, private hospitals were allegedly found charging extra for oxygen and medicines even as these were part of the package notified by the UT Administration on April 24. — TNS

Facilities found overcharging

• The hospitals found overcharging are Eden, Healing Touch, Apollo, Kare Partner and Mukut Hospital.
• The notice seeks on what basis the patients were overcharged and why medicines were given at rates higher than those in the market.

9 die, 376 test +ve in Mohali

Mohali, May 25

Nine more deaths were reported from the district during the past 24 hours, taking the toll to 882. As many as 376 fresh cases surfaced, while 539 patients were cured of the disease. There are now 5,019 active cases in the district. — TNS