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| Regulation of rates in private hospitals: Guv's nod likely | | |
Early Times Report
srinagar, Sept 27: The Governor administration is likely to implement the report for regulation of rates in private hospitals despite hurdles created by vested interests and politicians.
"Some politicians have strong nexus with proprietors and did not want to regulate rates in hospitals," an official of Health Department said.
The official said that report was submitted during the PDP-BJP government for regulation of rates but same was not implemented.
The official said that the failure of the government to regulate rates is affecting the patients, who are being charged as per the fancy of hospitals. "Governor administration has taken a serious note of and is likely to implement it," he said.
The committee headed by Director Health Services submitted its report in September last year for regulation of rates. However, the PDP-BJP government failed to execute it due to opposition by private hospitals.
An official of the Health Department said that the rates of private hospitals are being monitored everywhere in the world. "But there is no check on private hospitals in the Valley," the official said.
In absence of regulations, there have been frequent complaints from patients about being fleeced by private hospitals, he said.
In 2012, Health Department had issued an order making mandatory for nursing homes to display costs against services provided by them for the purpose of transparency.
A government of India survey has revealed that childbirth at a private hospital in J&K would cost more than it would cost in most states of India.
The survey has said that for a single childbirth at a private hospital in Kashmir's rural private nursing home is Rs. 23,750 on an average, much higher than national average.
Ghulam Mohammad Bhat, whose brother underwent surgery for removal of gall bladder last month, said, "We were charged Rs 50,000 by a private hospital in Srinagar. One of our relatives for the same surgery was charged only Rs 35,000."
Bhat, who is resident of Bemina, said there is huge variation in rates. "The hospitals charge as per their will for surgeries and tests. The government should fix the rates so that patients are not charged at per the fancy of the hospitals," he added.
An official said that committee did a thorough exercise for regulation of rates before submitting the report to the government.
Presently, he said they can't raid any hospital for over charging patients. "Once the rates are fixed, we too can take action," he added. |
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