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| Variation in rates puts patients to inconvenience | | Govt mulls to regulate rates in private hospitals, clinics | | Ishtiyaq Ahmad
Early Times Report
Srinagar, Mar 1: Government is considering regulating rates in private hospitals and nursing homes in the state for the convenience of patients.
It has been seen that patient load in government hospitals force people to turn to private hospitals for treatment. But there is no regulation of rates and patients are being charged as per the will of proprietors of these hospitals. "Most of these hospitals are charging patients with hefty sums for consultations and surgeries which varies from hospital to hospital."
An official of the Health Department told early times that there was variation of rates in private hospitals in the state. "One hospital charges Rs 40,000 for a surgery while another hospital charges Rs 30,000 for the same surgery. There are variations in rates, which creates inconveniences to the patients," the official said.
The official said that there are also variations in tests in privately run medical labs."Government is now mulling to frame a law to regulate rates in private clinics, and hospitals," the official said. The official said that order may also be issued in a month. "It will stop overcharging to the patients. Otherwise, these private hospitals are cheating the patients," he said. Official sources said the Health department had issued directions to these hospitals to provide the details of medicos serving there.
The official said there are 42 private hospitals and nursing homes are registered with the department of Health Services Kashmir.
There are over a hundred private hospitals and nursing homes in the state registered with the department of health department. But most of them lack necessary facilities with authorities failing to regulate their working.
However, officials said the other hospitals were given registrations after they were affiliated with the government hospitals and said they procure blood from there at the time of emergency. "These hospitals are run mostly by the medicos who are posted in government hospitals and remain absent from duties even during office hours," an official said.
Allowing private practice means doctors are not available for patients during crucial hours when their services are needed most. A senior medico of SMHS Hospital said it is necessary for every hospital to have its own blood bank.
"If there are complications during the surgery or at the time of emergency, these hospitals most of the times shift patients to tertiary care government hospitals thus risking the lives of patients," the medico said.
An official of health department said a team of officials inspect hospitals prior to its registration. "Their registration is also being renewed every three years. We check their manpower, infrastructure and they also have to get the NOC from the fire services department, pollution control department and municipal committees," he said. |
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