Covid-19 patient charged Rs 1.8cr by Delhi hospital for four-month stay; Manish Tewari seeks action
In a shocking incident, a Covid-19 patient was charged Rs 1.8 crore for over four-month stay in Max hospital in Delhi. Congress MP Manish Tewari wrote a letter to Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya to seek explanation from the hospital.
In a letter to Mansukh Mandaviya, Manish Tewari wrote: "My attention has been drawn to a news item which was published in the Indian Express of today (08-09-2021). In the said news item it is mentioned that Max Hospital, Saket, New Delhi has charged a patient Rs. 1.8 crores rupees as a hospital bill for treating COVID induced complications."
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"Such a hefty bill irrespective of the patients' ability to pay or not, constitutes a crime against humanity. I would urge you to immediately call for an explanation as to why and how did the hospital charge such an exorbitant sum of money from a patient irrespective of how unwell he or she might be," he added.
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"Covid-19 and the continuing pandemic have exposed the woeful state of our medical infrastructure across this country," he said.
Adding, he said that "If this pathetic state of our medical infrastructure is combined with the completely rapacious billing by private hospitals, in effect it would ensure that many poor people who are unable to access the government health system would never be able to get the required medical care which may be essential to save their lives."
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"Given the fact that we may be on the cusp of the third wave, I urge you to immediately and under all circumstances, call for an explanation from Max Hospital," he added.
The hospital said that the case was extremely challenging as the patient was diabetic, hypertensive and developed multiple complications such as gall bladder infection and loss of brain function.
-PTC News
