Covid-19 infected patients will have to spend up to Rs.35,000 a day for treatment in private hospitals across Jharkhand, and shell out more money if they have a comorbid condition or require administration of high-end drugs, the umbrella body for private hospitals in the State has decided.
The decision comes in the backdrop of reports highlighting exorbitant fee charged by some private hospitals here from patients infected by the deadly virus, president of the Association of Healthcare Providers India (AHPI), Jogesh Gambhir said.
“We have finalised four categories for Covid-19 patients undergoing treatment in private hospitals. The charges will vary from Rs.15,000 per day to Rs.35,000 per day depending on the category,” said Gambhir.
The fee structure is indicative, and may vary from city to city, said Gambhir, adding that the charges may be lower in smaller towns of Jharkhand. “The daily fee, however, will not exceed Rs 35,000 unless the patient is also treated for a comorbid condition or administered high-end drugs like Immunoglobulin and Tocilizumab,” he said.
As per the chart fixed by the AHPI, a Covid-19 patient admitted in an isolation ward will have to pay Rs.15,000 a day. A patient, who is provided oxygen support, will be charged Rs.20,000. A patient admitted in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) will have to pay Rs.25,000 for each day of treatment, and a patient put on ventilator will be charged Rs.35,000 daily. There are around 500 private hospitals in State.
The development comes a day after the Supreme Court asked the Centre whether a direction could be passed to cap the cost of treating Covid-19 patients in private hospitals. The apex court also asked if a certain percentage of those who contracted the disease could be treated for free.
On Thursday, a 45-year-old Covid-19-infected man died during treatment for a head injury in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of RIMS. In less than 24 hours since his death, another 70-year-old Covid-19-infected man from Simdega died at RIMS during treatment for a kidney ailment on Friday.
Both the patients were admitted in RIMS after being discharged from Bhagwan Mahavir Medica Superspecialty Hospital, health officials said. The health department served a show-cause notice to the private hospital in connection with the two cases.