SHILLONG, Aug 19: Peeved at the exorbitant charges for treatment of COVID-19 at private hospitals in Shillong, CSWO president Agnes Kharshiing has warned of compelling the aggrieved citizens to file a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) in the Meghalaya High Court against the private hospitals and the state government if the latter fails to conduct an inquiry into the issue.
It may be mentioned that the Supreme Court had, in its December 19, 2020, ruling, said that there should be a cap on the cost of COVID-19 treatment in private hospitals or more state-run facilities. “Even if one survives from COVID-19, many times financially and economically he is finished. Therefore, either more and more provisions are to be made by the State Government and the local administration or there shall be cap on the fees charged by the private hospitals, which can be in exercise of the powers under the Disaster Management Act,” the top court had said, adding, “Right to health includes affordable treatment. Therefore, it is the duty upon the State to make provisions for affordable treatment and more and more provisions in the hospitals to be run by the State and/or local administration are made.”
On Thursday, Kharshiing said that the CSWO had received numerous complaints from people who had to cough up a lot of money for treatment of COVID-19 in private hospitals. “CSWO, as an organisation concerned with the sufferings and pain of women in particular and public in general, is deeply perturbed by such reports,” Kharshiing said.
She informed that a private hospital reportedly charged around Rs 74,419 from a family from Pynursla for two nights of hospitalisation.
Informing that the COVID-19 patient was admitted on July 27 and discharged on July 29, Kharsiing said, “The CSWO has a copy of the said bill. However, the same will be produced in the event the Government of Meghalaya takes note or show interest. The charging of such a huge amount by a government-empanelled private hospital is painful and amounts to broad daylight robbery from poor citizens.”
According to CSWO president, such incidents corroborate that private hospitals are cashing in on the COVID-19 situation.
She also expressed discontent on how the Health department has been reportedly turning a blind eye to the issue.
