Consumer panel orders Hyderabad hospital to pay ₹2 lakh for overcharging Covid-19 patient

The complainant paid a total amount of ₹4.1 lakh on different dates for treatment.

He pointed out that the state government had fixed the ceiling of treatment costs for Covid-19 in a private hospital on 15 June, 2020, but the hospital charged a huge amount despite that.

“We suffered enormous trauma and mental agony in addition to the financial burden owing to the exorbitant medical expenses incurred during the hospitalisation,” said the complainant in the petition.

In its submission to the commission, the hospital said that the complainant was admitted with the serious health conditions of cough, fever, and uncontrolled blood sugar levels, and was kept in the ICU after necessary tests revealed that he was infected with Covid-19.

“The hospitalisation charges were reasonable and affordable when compared to other hospitals, and the complainant cleared the medical bill without a demur. We seek dismissal of the complaint, as there is no unfair trade practice as alleged by the complainant,” said the hospital in its submission.

Hearing the arguments and taking into consideration the submissions from both sides, the commission observed that for the ICU, an amount of ₹47,100 for 10 days — from 16 July 2020 to 25 July 2020, ie ₹ 4,710 per day — was charged, which was ₹710 per day more than the charges stipulated by the government order (GO) that capped Covid-19 treatment costs.

The hospital also charged ₹3,360 for the Covid-19 test, ₹1,860 for a D-Dimer test, and ₹1,440 for 2D echocardiography.

“As per the GO, the ICU charges very include monitoring and investigations like CBC, Urine routine, HIV spot, Anti HCV, Hbs Ag, Serum Creatinine, USG, 2D ECHO, XRay, ECG, Drugs, Consultations, Bed Charges, meals, Procedures like Rylestube insertion. Hence, the excess charges towards investigations collected by the hospital violate the said GO,” observed the commission.

In its order, the commission said that the complainant was entitled to compensation for the amounts excessively collected by the hospital as against the charges fixed by the Telangana government.

“The hospital is liable to pay the same along with reasonable compensation for the mental agony and loss incurred by the complainant and his family,” said the order of the commission.

It asked the hospital to pay ₹2 lakh towards compensation along with ₹10,000 towards the costs of litigation.