Govt seeks clarification from private hospitals on ‘exorbitant’ COVID treatment

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaMay 24, 2021

The state government has taken cognizance of the problem faced by COVID-19 patients due to alleged exorbitant cost of treatment in private hospitals.

Speaking to journalists on Monday, Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong said that the Director of Health Services (MI) has called for a meeting with all the private hospitals to seek clarification on this regard.

He said a meeting will also be held with authority of the North Eastern Indira Gandhi Regional Institute of Health and Medical Sciences (NEIGRIHMS).

“He (DHS) will have a meeting and discuss all the details (today evening) and then ultimately tomorrow he will come back to the government and we wil see and take a call accordingly,” Tynsong said.

This came after many social organizations have expressed concern over the exorbitant coronavirus treatment in the private hospitals even as they demand the government to explore the possibility of providing free treatment to COVID-19 patients.

Some of the organizations have also questioned the decision of the NEIGRIHMS to make it mandatory for COVID-19 patients to deposit Rs 10,000 at the time of admission.

Asked on the mind of the government to provide free COVID-19 treatment, Tynsong however said treatment for COVID-19 has already been included under the Megha Health Insurance Scheme (MHIS).

“…few more packages have been added and it is borne by the state government to the insurance company. Therefore, we have already helped. However, we will find out what is happening, why the cost of treatment is so exorbitantly high,” he said.

To another query, Tynsong said that the government will examine the need to amend the provisions of the MHIS for the benefit of the people affected  by the disease. “We will again sit tomorrow to discuss this matter and a decision will be taken after getting feedback from the DHS,” he added.

Earlier, Director of Health Services (MI) Dr Aman War said that he is holding a meeting with all private hospitals to seek clarification on the issue.

“We will find out as there are those who have opted for private wards which are not covered under MHIS, there are medicines which MHIS does not cover which include an injection costing Rs 40,000 for one shot and you have to give two shots,” he said.

He said as per MHIS slab, it is Rs 2,000 per day in private hospitals and Rs 1,200 in government hospitals.