Following public outcry and directions from the Central Health Ministry, the Haryana Government on Tuesday ordered a probe into allegations that the Fortis Hospital in Gurugram billed the family of a seven-year-old girl child, who died of dengue, almost Rs 16 lakh.
The parents have alleged that the hospital kept them in dark about the girl’s deteriorating condition and billed them for 600 syringes and 1,600 gloves in addition to other items.
However, the management of the Fortis Memorial Research Institute (FMRI), Gurugram, a multi super-specialty care hospital, has maintained that there is no medical negligence or overcharging in the care of the child.
Meanwhile, Haryana Health Minister Anil Vij said a senior officer would investigate the case. “Directions have been issued to the officer to submit the probe report at the earliest so that strict action could be against the guilty,” Vij said adding no hospital in the
State would be allowed to play with the health and sentiments of the people.
Earlier on the sidelines of an event, Union Health Minister JP Nadda said he has sought a “detailed report” from the hospital.
Nadda termed the incident “very unfortunate”
and said he has also asked the health secretary to look
into the case.
“The Government has taken cognisance of the case. I’ve enquired from the hospital authorities and asked them to submit a detailed report to the Health Ministry,” he told reporters on the sidelines of a health conference here.
The case relates to death in September of a seven-year-old girl who was admitted
to the multi super-speciality care hospital.
“I’ve also asked the health secretary to look into the case, and based on the report, we will take the needed action,” he said.
Nadda said he had taken note of the allegation levelled on Twitter against the hospital by a friend of the girl’s parents. “One of my batchmate’s 7 year old was in @fortis_hospital for ~15 days for Dengue. Billed 18 lakhs including for 2700 gloves. She passed away at the end of it...,” the friend said in the tweet which went viral.
Fortis Hospital in a statement has claimed “all standard medical protocols were followed in treating the
patient and all clinical guidelines were adhered to”.
Fortis said it had charged the family Rs 15.79 lakh. Asked about the hospital’s charges, Nadda said, “We will inform State Government about
such issues. An advisory has to be issued.”
“We have told them before also. We have the clinical establishment model Act (The Clinical Establishments [Registration and Regulation] Act, 2010) that needs to be adopted, so that patients can get relief. We will instruct the States again on this,” he said.
The Act deals with the registration and regulation of all clinical establishments in the country, stipulating minimum standards for the facilities and services they have to provide.
Dr KK Aggarwal, president, Indian Medical Association (IMA) said the hospital should have set up an enquiry of experts from outside soon after the complaints of overcharging made by the family. But since now the Health Ministry is probing into the matter we hope truth will come out, he added.
However, the Alliance of Doctors for Ethical Healthcare (ADEH), a group of medical professionals, termed it a ‘pathetic situation and total failure of the healthcare delivery system in the country.”
Dr GS Grewal from the ADEH said “in our country where 30 per cent of the population lives below poverty line that is per capita earning of Rs 32/- in rural and Rs 47/- in urban areas and another 30 per cent population is marginally above the poverty line, it is beyond comprehension that how these people can afford tertiary healthcare.”
The Government spending on the health is less than 1 per cent of the GDP which needs to be increased to minimum of 5 per cent to meet the basic health needs. The healthcare system has to be regulated and drug prices should be brought down, Dr Grewal added.