New Delhi: Anurag Mandal an ambulance driver's mother who had tested Covid positive, had to be admitted to the hospital having complained of blood pressure and that her situation had deteriorated following hospitalization. Meanwhile, the hospital handed him a bill of Rs 5 lakhs, which include the cost of medication.
Though Anurag managed to cough up Rs 3.5 lakh, he could not save his mother.
Read: Delhi records the lowest maximum temperature in 70 years
Sapna also has a a similar story. Despite having paid nearly Rs 4 lakh towards her aunt's hospitalization, she could not be saved.
There are many such incidents of hospitals overcharging patients in the name of Covid treatment. Hence, the Delhi government in a bid to curb the issue finally announced a cap on covid treatment charges.
However, hospitals continue to fleece patients in whatever way possible.
Delhi government cap on corona treatment in private hospitals-
Fare fixed by Delhi government for an ambulance
- A normal ambulance can charge a maximum of Rs 1500 rupees for the initial 10 kilometers. After 10 km, you can be charged Rs 100 per km.
- For an ambulance with life support, the government has fixed a maximum charge of Rs 2000 for 10 kilometers. After 10 km, life-supporting ambulances may charge Rs 100 per km.
- The charge for an initial 10 km of advanced life support ambulance with the presence of a doctor will be Rs 4000. After 10 kilometers, a charge of 100 rupees per kilometer has been fixed.
- Strict action will be taken against anyone who violates this order or exhorts more money. The ambulance driver's license and the ambulance registration certificate will also be cancelled and the ambulance seized.
Read: BSF adds 20 more beds with oxygen support in its Delhi Covid facility
Other steps taken by Delhi Government
- The Government of Delhi has set up a Technical Expert Committee to prevent the misuse of 'Tocilizumab' and 'Amphotericin-B' injections.
- Based on the demand made by hospitals for these injections, the Technical Expert Committee recommends the Director General Health Services to release the injections.
- The Delhi government has appointed a nodal officer to ensure the smooth supply of oxygen to hospitals.
- A two-member Oxygen Audit Committee has been constituted in 13 hospitals of the Delhi Government to monitor oxygen stock and utilization in hospitals.
- An Oxygen concentrator bank has been created in all the districts, through which the supply is made to the needy who are undergoing treatment in home isolation. Apart from this, cylinder distribution centers have also been set up all over Delhi, from where cylinders can be taken in collaboration with the local district administration after applying for the same on the Delhi government website.
So far, 120 people have been arrested by the Delhi Police for cheating people on the pretext of providing oxygen, medicines and beds, while 25 people have been arrested for black marketing of drugs, while 15 ambulance drivers have been arrested for overcharging patients.
