Even taking Rs 1.7 million from the patients and demanding treatment from the government
BIRATNAGAR: JULY 8 – Indu Karki of Biratnagar-10 was admitted to Biratnagar Hospital on April 12. On April 16, she was confirmed to have COVID-19. As the condition worsened, she was treated in the ICU and on a ventilator. However, she died on May 5 while undergoing treatment. Kendra Prakash Karki, the husband of the deceased, informed that Rs. 1,753,294 has been paid to the hospital for her treatment. He said that he was surprised to be asked to pay such a large amount for the 23-day hospital stay but requested the hospital to reduce the amount.
He has provided the bill of Rs. 1 million 30 thousand to Makalu Khabar taken by the hospital for various services. Apart from this, Rs. 158,894 was taken for testing, Rs. 398,986 for medicines and Rs. 165,414 for other medicines, said Kendra Prakash.
In the case of COVID-19 infection, ICU charge was charged at the rate of Rs 50,000 per day. However, Karki claimed that the hospital had provided free treatment to COVID-19 in the name of Indu Karki and demanded payment from the Ministry of Health and Population. He said that legal action was taken after he came to know about it.
Similarly, Ramji Mahato Koiri of Sunsari Inaruwa-2, who was infected with COVID-19, died on May 23. The hospital paid a bill of Rs 600,000 for 13 days of treatment at Birat Medical College. His son Nitesh informed that the family had repaid the loan. The hospital has also demanded the ministry pay for Ramji’s treatment.
Similarly, Raju Pradhan of Biratnagar-4 tested positive for COVID-19 and returned home after undergoing treatment at the hospital for nine days. As soon as the infection was confirmed on April 24, Pradhan, who was admitted to Birat Medical College on April 29, recovered and returned home on May 7. Pradhan, who stayed in the general ward with oxygen for three days and general care for the remaining six days, received a bill of Rs. One lakh 3 thousand rupees. He said that he paid all the money except Rs 26,000 for the medicine. He said he had received information that the hospital had demanded all the money from the government for his treatment.
Complaints abound
Patients and their relatives have started filing complaints at the district administration office after it was revealed that the hospital has also demanded fees from the government for the treatment. The demand for investigation has also started to increase after the hospital collected an arbitrary amount. Patients and their relatives have started filing complaints with the Ministry of Health and Population, the District Administration Office, and the Ministry of Social Development.
According to Kendra Prakash, the hospital had taken more than Rs 1.5 million from them and demanded free treatment from the government, and demanded that the government provide the money to the families of the patients.
Kendra Prakash has sent a letter to the ministry requesting the hospital not to pay the amount as the patient has already paid the amount. In the petition, the relatives have already paid all the amount to the hospital and the ministry has demanded that the amount should be paid to them without giving it to the hospital.
Instruction not to make the amount of research admission available immediately
The hospitals have agreed with the government to treat COVID-19 free of cost or with the written approval of the patient or the patient’s relatives. There is an arrangement to charge 50 percent more for this treatment.
However, after receiving a complaint alleging that money was taken from the patients and also demanded from the government, the District Administration Office, Morang, asked the Medical College not to immediately provide the money for the treatment of COVID-19.
“The Ministry of Health and Population has been asked not to pay the amount to the Birat Medical College without investigating the amount claimed by the hospital as illegal,” he said.
While being admitted to the hospital, the issue of having to deposit up to Rs 200,000 for treatment in the ICU and ventilator of the hospital was repeatedly raised.
We have taken money from the patients as the amount given by the government is not enough: Hospital Director Karki
Gyanendra Man Singh Karki, director of Birat Medical College and Biratnagar Hospital, said that the government was insufficient to provide quality services to the hospital.
He said that as per the agreement with the government, the amount paid by the patient during the treatment was deducted and the demand was made from the state. ‘Does the state know what is done during covid treatment? Certainly not, ‘he told to Makalukhbar.’ When you are brought for COVID-19 treatment, you have to undergo a lot of treatment including heart, lungs, and many other treatments but the facility provided by the state does not cover the complexity of the problem.
He said that despite repeated discussions that the services provided by the state are not enough, no one has heard about it but now it is not right to object to taking the amount as per the cost. Director Karki challenged the hospital to investigate and show if there was any mistake.
“We have not forcibly brought anyone to our hospital,” said Karki. “We have to pay for the treatment when we come for treatment as it provides quality services.” He argues that it would be a sin not to serve the citizens but it would not be a sin to take the cost of saving lives.
