Overbilling for Covid-19 treatment by private hospitals has emerged as another roadblock for Delhi government, after it recently received flak from the Supreme Court, which termed the city's patient care as 'deplorable and 'pathetic.
Taking cognizance on the matter, the Lieutenant Governor of Delhi, Anil Baijal, and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal during the Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) meet will discuss fixing a price ceiling for treatment at private hospitals, drive through Covid labs, charges by private ambulance services, and reducing prices for Covid-19 tests by private labs.
According to the meeting notice, the discussion will focus on fixing the price ceiling for treatment by private hospitals, as some of them are charging exorbitant prices and seeking huge advances. Recently, several complaints have been on social media leveling serious allegations against private hospitals for overbilling patients for Covid-19 treatment.
The Max Hospital Covid management package has attracted the wrath of many Twitter users, where they claimed the charges are extremely high. According to various social media posts, per day charges for Covid management package at Max hospital for a routine ward (general ward) is Rs 25,090 per day; twin-sharing ward is Rs 27,190; charges for ICU without ventilator is Rs 53,050 per day; and charges for ICU with ventilator is Rs 72,550.
The meeting between the LG and CM is scheduled for Tuesday.
Addressing several issues of testing, where the Delhi government was severely criticised by the Supreme Court for low testing, the meeting will also focus on drive through Covid test labs and reducing prices being charged by private labs for Covid-19 tests, to make it affordable to the general public.
The CM and the LG will also assess the requirement and action plan for the recruitment of medical personnel to meet any projected shortfall. "Providing facilities of telemedicine by a panel of government and private doctors 24x7," said the notice.
( With inputs from IANS )