Tripura govt curbs ‘unethical profiteering’ by pvt hospitals during pandemic

Agartala: Amidst reports of private institutes charging extra from families of COVID-19 positive patients, the state cabinet decided that no more money could be taken from patients over the amount fixed by the Central Government’s Health Scheme (CGHS) for the treatment of COVID at ILS and Tripura Medical College (TMC) Hospitals in the state.

According to the government decision, hospitals cannot charge more than Rs 4,000 per day for oxygen-supported isolation beds, Rs 7,500 per day for ordinary ICU beds and Rs 9,000 per day for ventilator-supported ICU beds.

This amount includes several experiments and medicines. There are some tests like CT scan and some drugs that are not included in the guidelines of its centre. The hospital can charge extra for a patient if they need them.

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“It is often seen that private hospitals are randomly taking money from patients for the benefit of the helpless. The state cabinet took this decision to prevent it for the benefit of the people,” a press statement from the chief minister’s office informed.

Currently, there are only two private institutions – Tripura Medical College (TMC) and ILS, both in West Tripura district – where the COVID-19 positive patients are undergoing treatment. Presently a total of 98 people are undergoing treatment in these two institutions, including 51 in ILS and 47 in TMC.

Dr Arindam Datta, medical superintendent of TMC hospital said that a total of 47 patients including 8 in ICU supported beds, one in ventilators and the rest in ICU supported beds are undergoing treatment.

Meanwhile, Tripura has reported 841 fresh cases of COVID-19 on Tuesday with six more deaths taking the tally to 522 so far. Presently, there are a total of 5,677 active cases with a positivity rate of 5.39 per cent.