COVID-19: Maharashtra Pvt Hospitals Charge Exorbitantly from Patients Despite State Govt Advisory

Pune: MM Koor, a photojournalist in his 50s, was shocked when Saifee Hospital, Mumbai, handed over a bill of Rs 2.60 lakh for treatment of his sister for 11 days. Shabana Ansari, a 61 years old Parkinson’s patient, had undergone treatment for COVID-19 in the said hospital from April 23 to May 3.

Koor said, “The hospital has charged Rs 27,000 for three PPEs (personal protective equipment) per day, which means Rs 9,000 for one PPE. But a PPE kit does not cost more than Rs 1,000. That cost should have been divided among all patients in the ward she was at. The staff who had received my sister and had covered her with plastic at the hospital gate did not reply to my queries about the bill.” Koor has also accused hospital of maltreatment of his sister, who contracted pneumonia when she was discharged. 

Dr Abhijit More of Jan Swasthya Abhiyan, said, that he receives several complaints about hospitals in the state overcharging COVID-19 patients daily. He added, “When a doctor wears PPE he examines all patients in that ward. Hospital should divide PPE amount by number of patients. They don’t specify the charges for treatment like consultation, or PPE or drugs or tests, and patients are not in any condition to find out details. Thus, they loot patients.”

Many private hospitals in Maharashtra are reportedly charging exorbitant rates from COVID-19 patients, defying the state government order that they should charge as per its rules. As per notification issued by Maharashtra government, private and charitable hospitals can only charge upto R 4,000 for general ward and isolation, Rs 7,500 for ICU + without ventilator and isolation, and Rs 9,000 for ICU + ventilator+ isolation. The services include nursing and bed charges, drugs consultation, tests like 2D Echo, X ray, bed charges among others. 

Also read: COVID-19 Cases in Maharashtra Cross 50,000, Mumbai Alone Has 30,000

This does not include PPE kit charges. The government’s order also stated that hospitals cannot charge 10% more than net procurement cost of PPE kit. If PPE is used to check more than one patient then cost should be divided among all patients.

Dr Rajesh Tope, the health minister of Maharashtra on May 1 had announced free treatment under Mahatma Jyotiba Phule Jan Arogya Yojna to all COVID-19 patients across the state. 

But there is a catch. “The free treatment is available only at over 1,000 hospitals, both government and private, which are covered under Mahatma Phule Jan Arogya Yojana. However many other private and trust hospitals treat COVID-19 patients and they are not covered under this scheme,” the helpline (155388) of the state Health Department said.

Dr Sudhakar Shinde, CEO, Mahatma Phule Jan Arogya Yojna, Health Department of Maharashtra, said, “There are notifications issued by state government explaining how private hospitals can charge like above rules.” 

Koor had tried to get her sister admitted in a government hospital or trust-run hospital like Jaslok where he could get free treatment as per government rule. But no beds were available. 

When contacted, the billing department of Saifee Hospital told this reporter that they would call back. However, there have been no calls so far and the hospital remained unresponsive to further attempts at reaching.

Till May 26, Maharashtra has 52,667 cases while India’s total cases are 1.45 lakh. The state has recorded 1,695 deaths and 15,786 have recovered.

The high number of patients, especially in areas like Pune, Thane and Mumbai, among others has made it extremely difficult for patients to find beds in government hospitals in order to get free treatment. 

Thirty-nine years old Samuel Londhe, who works with an NGO and his brother Amar were treated in K J Somaiya Hospital in Sion, Mumbai, for COVID-19 from May 8 to May 14 till they recovered. 

Samuel, who expressed his reservations about sanitation facilities in government hospitals, told, “Besides Rs 70,000 per patient before admission, we were charged Rs 1.36 lakh per patient. As fever package, Rs 17,000 per day is charged. When we asked about free treatment for COVID-19, the administration said they were unaware of it. We did not want to spend more time there due to fear of infection so we did not argue.” 

Also read: COVID-19 Lockdown: Maharashtra Govt Announces Budget Cuts, No to New Projects and Recruitment

KEM Hospital in Pune charged Rs 3.52 lakh from Nirmala Kamble, a 56 years old retired sanitation worker for COVID-19 treatment from April 22 to May 19 when she was discharged. Manoj, her son, said, “I had to pay Rs 96,864 that is not covered under her medical insurance. The hospital has charged Rs 39,000 for surgical disposable that is PPEs.”

Four out of 11 family members of Manoj had tested positive for COVID-19. The other three patients were young and had a fast recovery. All members of his family were quarantined at a government centre at Balewadi. Manoj said, “Ward boys had thrown her on bed after she had slipped in the bathroom and now she is suffering from back pain. Not only that, when I argued that the hospital cannot charge for COVID-19 patients, they mistreated me.” 

Both KEM and Somaiya hospitals did not respond to queries about overcharging patients. 

Danish Shaikh, a BSc student from Pune, is still under shock due to his father’s death because of COVID-19 on May 14. Nuruddin Shaikh, 49, a book binder by profession, did not have a history of other illnesses and was under treatment at Noble Hospital, Hadapsar, Pune, from April 25 to May 14. 

Danish said, “The hospital had taken information about my dad’s medical insurance of Rs 5 lakh while admitting him. They never allowed us to visit him telling he is not in good health. My mother fought with hospital authorities on May 14 to allow her to visit dad wearing PPE, and warned them about registering a complaint. On the same night, we received a call from the hospital informing his death. They handed over a bill amounting Rs 7.90 lakh. When we registered a complaint with the Pune Collector’s Office and the state Health Department, the hospital waived of Rs 2.90 lakh. But they will claim my father’s medical insurance worth Rs 5 lakh.” 

Dr Girish Bhosale of Noble hospital said, “Bills of COVID-19 patients range from Rs 10,000 to Rs 4 lakh. I need details of bill of the patient to explain.” 

Danish and his mother were not keen to share their details with the hospital. 

Shinde, CEO of the Mahatma Jyotiba Jan Arogya Yojana, Health Department of Maharashtra, said, “Patients can complain at district collectors or city commissioners if they are being charged.”