Bhopal/ Chhindwara (Madhya Pradesh): An elderly man, who was discharged from a Covid care centre after treatment staged a sit-in in centre’s premises in Chhindwara district on Tuesday, accusing hospital management of extorting money from corona patients.
He claimed that the hospital has a tie-up with a pathology laboratory, which gives reports as per instruction of hospital administration. The victim identified as Ramesh Shahu, 62, a resident of Shanichari Baazar in Chhindwara city was admitted to a private Covid care centre on April 21. After 20 days, he along with his son were discharged from hospital on Tuesday.
The Covid care centre named as Satpura Covid-19 hospital is housed in marriage hall in Rani Kothi locality. It is owned by a trust based in Amarvati district, Maharashtra.
Sources said that the trust, which runs a hospital in Amaravati, opened Covid care centre in Chhindwara on request of former chief minister and leader of Opposition Kamal Nath.
According to victim, the pathology’s reports do not match the facts. “The samples of patients are sent to a particular pathology laboratory, which issues factually incorrect reports. I got a similar test done from another laboratory and the result is different. How can there be so much difference between two reports, which were conducted on the same day?” Ramesh Shahu said.
While taking to the journalists, he claimed that on the basis of factually incorrect report, the hospital delays discharging patients to extort moeny. “This is very common practice here. I have reports of both laboratories,” he said, claiming that he has to pay Rs 5.50 lakh for his and his son's treatment.
On getting information, a team from Dehat police station reached the spot and took application from Sahu who withdraw agitation after assurance by police.
Dehat police station incharge Mahendra Bhagat said application along with copies of all reports has been taken from Sahu and further action will be taken on basis of facts.
When contacted, Satpura Covid care centre director Dr Sweta Sharma refuted the allegation. “As the patient had confusion about his report, a test was conducted again but reports were same. We cooperated with him well and also gave him a discount on total bill. His allegation is baseless,” Sharma told journalists.
