A government doctor in Hyderabad has filed a police complaint alleging that she was charged Rs 1.19 lakh for a single day by a private hospital for coronavirus treatment, violating the state government’s guidelines on treatment costs. But, the hospital said that the doctor was charged for the services and medications given to her.

On 4th July, Dr Asra Sultana filed a complaint at Chaderghat Police Station. She is an assistant civil surgeon at the Government Fever Hospital and said that she had gone to the Thumbay Hospital on 1st June after she experienced breathing issues. She was then tested positive for COVID-19 two weeks back and was in home isolation earlier to the night of 1st June. Sultana was asked to pay Rs 40,000 during admission and after she wanted to leave the next day, the hospital did not allow her to leave till a payment of Rs 79,000 was done.

She stated in her complaint that the hospital did not give her proper medicines and the nurses were very irresponsible. No medication was given on time. For only one day, i.e. 2nd July she was at the hospital and they charged her Rs 1.19 lakh. She paid Rs 40,000, but did not have the remaining amount so they detained her for several hours till her brother, who is also COVID-positive, came and paid the remaining amount. Finally, they paid Rs 1.19 lakh for a day’s treatment at the hospital.

In a statement, the hospital said that Sultana was admitted without any issues and was billed for the services and medications given to her during her stay at the hospital. The hospital authorities did not answer to attempts for comment by The Indian Express.

Sultana posted a video from the hospital on social media, after that the health officials shifted her to the Nizam’s Institute of Medical Sciences (NIMS). The Telangana Doctors’ Association said that this incident has highlighted that private hospitals are robbing people and urged the government to take strict action against them.

The association’s president, Dr Lalu Prasad Rathod, said that even in COVID-19 situation, private hospitals are robbing helpless citizens. Dr Sultana is a well-respected and experienced doctor. She herself was at the forefront against the coronavirus battle. When such an experienced doctor has to undergo this kind of humiliation at the hospital and was charged a bill of over Rs 1 lakh, then imagine the way these private hospitals are looting the middle-class patients. When Dr Sultana questioned about the treatment and billing, she was asked to leave the hospital but they did not allow her to leave until she cleared the bill. The government should take strict action against such private hospitals which are overcharging common people.

Source: The India Express