Amit Bathla
Tribune News Service
Panchkula, June 14
Following the instructions of Deputy Commissioner Vinay Pratap Singh, three major private hospitals in the district – Alchemist Hospital, Paras Hospital and Ojas Hospital – have agreed to revise the “inflated” bills issued to Covid patients and refund the overcharged amount as per the guidelines of the Haryana Government.
The Panchkula administration had issued show-cause notices to the hospitals and asked them to come for a personal hearing to consider their perception on the matter.
“The process of reconciliation pertaining to 18 test bills will be completed in two days. After reconciliation, hospitals will be given a week to refund the overcharged amount. June 23 is the deadline for releasing the funds to Covid patients and their families,” said the Deputy Commissioner. According to senior officials, the hospitals differed on the amount to be refunded during the personal hearing today.
If overcharged, approach admn
“Anyone with allegations of overcharging by private hospitals for Covid treatment can approach the district administration. Their complaints will be resolved on a priority basis,” said BB Singhal, member of the Haryana State Pharmacy Council and member of the committee looking after such issues.
After receiving several complaints of overcharging, Haryana Speaker and local MLA Gian Chand Gupta had recommended the formation of a panel to look into the matter.
A district-level eight-member committee, led by ADC Mohammad Imran Raza, was constituted. Gupta had also written to Health Minister Anil Vij requesting for an audit of bills issued by private hospitals.
In June last year, the Haryana Government had issued an order capping the daily package rate for Covid-19 treatment in private hospitals between Rs 8,000 and Rs18,000.
Self-audit suggested