The Kerala government on Monday has put a cap covid-19 treatment in private hospitals. The treatment fees for patients referred by the government members and beneficiaries of Karunya Arogya Suraksha Paddhati (KASP), the state’s health insurance scheme will remain free.
Here’s the price list after the govt imposed a ceiling on charges by private hospitals for Covid-19 treatment:
1. Price for non-NABH (National Accreditation Board for Hospitals & Healthcare Providers (NABH) certified hospitals
General ward: Rs 2,645 per day.
HDU – Rs 3,795 per day
ICU – Rs 7,800 per day
ICU with ventilator- Rs 13,800 per day
2. Price for NABH certified hospitals
General Ward: Rs 2,910 per day
HDU: Rs 4,175 per day
ICU: Rs 8,580 per day
ICU with ventilator: 15,180 per day
Registration, bed, nursing and boarding, blood transfusion, oxygen, Xray, consultation, diagnosis etc will be covered in this charge.
“There shall not be exorbitant pricing of Covid related consumables like PPE, pulse oximeter, masks, portable Oxygen cylinders and consumables else, action shall be initiated by the District Collector against the concerned, under relevant provisions of the law.No shops or hospitals shall charge more than MRP, for these items,” the government said in the order.
The government said charges for various treatments, consumables, medicines, doctors and nursing should be made known to the public and will be monitored by the secretary Clinical Establishment Act. “If any hospital is found to be charging more than the rates… they shall be levied a penalty which shall be ten times the additional charges by the concerned DMO(H),” it said.
The order came days after the Kerala High Court expressed concern over the high fees levied by private hospitals on COVID-19 patients. Introducing a universal pricing system for its treatment, the state government had assured the high court after a plea alleged that private hospitals and testing centres were charging high bills to “exploit the pandemic situation and fear of people in the society.” The government said multiple rounds of discussions were held with private hospital associations by the principal secretary, health, state health agency and director of health services.
The petitioner, a lawyer, had sought directions from the court to take remedial measures to arrive at treatment package rate for private hospitals for walk-in Covid-19 patients before the next sitting.
Noting that COVID bed occupancy in hospitals are reaching saturation in many districts in both government and private hospitals, the government said it has also decided to set apart 50 per cent of the beds in government, private (including private medical colleges), cooperative and ESI Hospitals exclusively for the treatment of COVID-19 patients requiring hospitalisation. Approving the decision, the high court said the Government Order (GO) dated May 10, 2021 shall be implemented by the government and all stakeholders and any admissions after this order will be governed by the rates.
“All private hospitals would be bound to offer treatment strictly as per GO and any violation will be strictly dealt with, a division bench, comprising Justices Devan Ramachandran and Kauser Edappagth, said. The court said it was more than pleased with the GO.
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