Big Loot by Chennai Private Hospital from COVID-19 Patients: Shocking Fee Details Here

Several private hospitals across the country have been charging hefty amounts for COVID-19 positive patients to occupy beds within their premises. While some have been asking 1 Lakh for N-95 masks and PPE kits, some others are charging over 1 Lakh per day for ventilator services.

Chennai’s private hospitals have proved to be no different.

While the government facilities are providing ample services, given the population size, various citizens are forced to rely upon private hospitals and treatment. Times Now reported on Friday that various private facilities in Chennai metropolitan area are over pricing PPE kits, are offering packages where an advance of 3 Lakhs is to be paid, and so on.

Chennai’s most vulnerable citizens who have tested positive are exploited this way.

Times Now reported that one hospital had asked for an advance of Rs.50,000 where PPE kits cost Rs.10,000 per day. In the same hospital patients who stay at deluxe rooms will have to pay Rs.70,000 to 80,000 per day and ventilators cost Rs.1,25,000 per day. A second facility had offered a 3 Lakh package where PPE, ventilators and other requirements were to be charged for additionally.

We visited 3 prominent pvt hospitals in Chennai to understand how patients are exploited.

Hospital 1:

Advance amount- Rs 50,000

PPE kits per day- Rs 10,000

Deluxe room including other charges- Rs 70K- 80K per day

Ventilator- Up to Rs 1.25 lakh per day

https://t.co/Sbk1bjhNtf

— Shilpa Nair (@NairShilpa1308) May 29, 2020

Another hospital in Chennai had asked for Rs.15,000 to 16,000 per day for a room while an advance of Rs.30,000 to 40,000 must be paid. The same private facility had charged Rs.1 Lakh for a patient who was admitted for 24 hours.

Hospital 3:

Rs 15,000- Rs 16,000 per day for a room.

Advance amount of Rs 30K- Rs 40K. Separate charges for PPEs.

Asks us to keep Rs 1-2 lakh ready for treatment.

One patient who was admitted for 24 hours was charged Rs 1 lakh. Bill copy attached.https://t.co/YKXkkIs11S pic.twitter.com/qLzWBM3oSF

— Shilpa Nair (@NairShilpa1308) May 29, 2020

An affected family from Chennai told India Today, that they were shocked to see the hospital bill as the PPE charges alone was Rs.33,000. The government of India said that PPE kits are manufactured and sold for just Rs.600. However, private facilities are over pricing the same.

For many affected people, insurance policies are not helping as consumables are not covered but they are a huge part of the charged fee. Others with no insurance are forced to shell the fee amount from their pockets.