End organised loot by private hospitals: Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee

Nampally: The Congress party on Tuesday accused corporate hospitals of indulging in 'organised loot' through exorbitant billing from the patients and their kin.

Led by Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) Minorities Dept Chairman Shaik Abdullah Sohail, a team of Congress leaders, including Hyderabad City Congress Minorities Dept chairman Sameer Waliullah, Ranga Reddy Dist Chairman Mohammed Riyaz and others visited one of the private hospitals located at Road No.1 at Banjara Hills on Tuesday to inquire into a complaint of exorbitant and erroneous billing of a patient.

The leaders met the hospital authorities and asked them to explain the reasons behind charging exorbitant amounts for regular services. However, the authorities sought 4 days time from the Congress leaders to come up with a detailed reply and assured that they would rectify the mistakes, if any.

Later speaking to media persons, Sohail said that similar complaints were being received from almost all corporate and private hospitals. He alleged that the corporate hospitals were looting the patients by flouting all the norms, rules and ethics. "They are playing with the sentiments of patients and their relatives. These corporate and private hospitals have turned into the centers of extortion. Their billing methods are completely illogical and amounts to open cheating," he said.

Further, he said that the rental charges for an oxygen cylinder hired at home are maximum Rs 300 per day. But, the hospitals are charging nearly Rs 3,500 to Rs 5,000 per day, he said.

"Since the common people are unable to understand the medical bills, the corporate hospitals are exploiting their ignorance. For Malaria or Dengue cases, this Banjara Hills Hospital is charging nearly Rs 40,000 to Rs 50,000 for 4 to 5 days of admission. For some serious diseases, the average billing is even up to Rs 1 lakh per day," he said.

The Congress leader questioned the State government for not taking any measures to regulate the corporate and private hospitals. He said that as per the rules, all hospitals are required to display the tariff card at a prominent place in the hospitals.

However, neither hospitals are following this norm nor is the State government taking action against them. He warned that a massive agitation, both on ground and online, would be launched soon against the 'healthcare mafia.'