PUNE:
The
State government capped the charges for treatment of mucormycosis patients at
private hospitals in the state, where the official number of such cases has
gone above 5,000.
The state health department issued a
notification to this effect, asking all charitable hospitals registered under
the Bombay Public Trusts Act, 1950, to follow the capped charges while treating
mucormycosis patients. The state government has identified 28 types of
surgeries for mucormycosis or black fungus treatment, it said.
For surgeries, the minimum charges are fixed around
Rs 6,000 in tier three cities, and the amount can rise up to Rs one lakh,
depending on the region and the complexity of the treatment, said the
notification, which will remain in force till July 31.
The notification mentioned the charges as per the
region and the type of treatment. A senior official of the public health department
said, "There are some multi-disciplinary private hospitals in metro cities
like Mumbai, Pune, Nagpur, where experts of brain, nose, eyes, ears, among
others, are available to handle mucormycosis cases. Such hospitals are commonly
known as super speciality hospitals."
If a patient wants to get treatment at such hospitals, the fees are generally
huge. But this notification now caps the charges and patients can seek
treatment in such multi- disciplinary hospitals as well, he said.
The government notification also mentioned that
mucormycosis patients, who are not covered under any third party administrator,
medical insurance or government scheme, had registered their grievances
regarding exorbitant fees being charged by healthcare providers registered
under the Bombay Nursing Home (Amendment) Act, 2005.
It caused hardships to the people suffering from
mucormycosis or suspected to be suffering from the disease, it said. The
notification warned the doctors of having to face penal action under various
statutes if healthcare service or healthcare package is denied to patients.
The notification also asked all the district
collectors and municipal commissioners to appoint auditors in hospitals to
issue a pre-audited bill to mucormycosis patients and their relatives. If
excess charging is found, the amount will have to be reimbursed to the patient,
the notification said.
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