Navi Mumbai: A two members team led by Dr Sudhakar Shinde, chief executive officer of Mahatma Jyotiba Phule Jan Arogya Yojna (MJPAY) paid a surprise visit to a couple of private hospitals in Panvel after several complaints of overcharging. The team found that hospitals were flouting guidelines while treating COVID patients.
The team found that one hospital had not displayed the rates and other charges, while another hospital had furnished wrong details. Some hospitals were overcharging patients. Shinde said there was blatant violation. “I spoke to the municipal commissioner and asked him to take action,” said Shinde. He added that he visited two hospitals and found that one hospital did not have a rate board and the other had put up a wrong list of the rates. “I have informed concerned authorities about the irregularities and sent a report,” said Shinde.
In some cases, patients treated under MJPAY were asked to pay some amount. “The nature of action will be decided by the local body,” said Shinde.
A senior civic official from Panvel Municipal Corporation (PMC) said that the action will be taken after going through the violations.
Kantilal Kadu, president of Panvel Sangharsh Samiti, alleged that the local body was turning a blind eye to the violations. “I wrote to the chief minister, health secretary and MJPAY about the violations. I hope action will be taken against private hospitals for violation,” said Kadu.
