IMA warns private hospitals against fleecing

Instructs to charge rates fixed by State govt for Covid treatment

Karimnagar: The district unit of the Indian Medical Association (IMA) warned private hospitals against collecting huge charges from Covid patients. It instructed the managements of private hospitals to collect charges fixed by the State government.

IMA State president elect Dr BN Rao, District president Dr Vasantha Rao and secretary Dr Ramkiran, in a statement, said, since the Covid-19 pandemic was rampant, scores of people were infected by the virus and approaching private hospitals for treatment. Hospital managements should provide treatment with a service motto, they said.

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Complaints have also been lodged with the State government stating that some of the hospitals were charging exorbitant fees to patients for Covid treatment. Because of a few hospitals, all nursing homes were getting bad name.

Hospital charges have been hiked due to absurd surge in prices by medical agencies, surgical material agencies and oxygen supply agencies. Instead of collecting high charges with an aim to amass huge amounts, all the agencies should work with service a motto and collect less charges from the Covid victims in these trying times, they said.

“IMA will respond seriously if hospitals do not budge to lessen the burden of medical expenses or charges on patients,” they warned. Moreover, IMA would not be responsible and extend any kind of support to hospitals if District Medical and Health Department officials take action against them, they added.