In a major relief to those undergoing Covid treatment in private hospitals, the Manohar Lal Khattar Government has withdrawn the condition of capping treatment charges for ‘Haryana residents’ only.

The decision came after the State Government received several complaints related to the private hospitals charging exorbitant amounts of money from ‘outsiders’ in the garb of utmost safety and care during Covid treatment. “The State Government has revised its previous order dated September 18, 2020 and decided to remove the condition for ‘Haryana residents’ only regarding capping of rates done by the government. Henceforth, the capping of rates shall be implemented uniformly for all the Covid patients, irrespective of their place of residence,” stated a fresh order issued on May 4 by Director General Health Services, Haryana.

The order further stated, “The State Government employees, pensioners and their dependants shall be charged as per the existing State Government reimbursement, limited cashless, empanelment policies, as the case may be.”

“It is also directed that all the Covid hospitals shall display the charges of treatment of Covid patients at a well visible place in the hospital,” the order added.

 Haryana Government had on June 25 last year fixed per day rates in hospitals accredited by the National Accreditation Board for Hospitals and Healthcare providers (NABH) at Rs 10,000 for isolation bed, including supportive care and oxygen; Rs 15,000 for Intensive Care Unit (ICU) bed without ventilator and Rs 18,000 for ICU bed with ventilator. Likewise, the rates in non-NABH accredited hospitals are Rs 8000, Rs 13,000 and Rs 15,000, respectively for the same services.

However, another order was issued on September 18 stating that the standardised per-day charges for COVID-19 treatment in private hospitals (Rs 8000-18,000) fixed by the State Government in June will now be applicable only to ‘Haryana residents’.

The order in September last was issued in an attempt to give priority to the residents of the state for Covid treatment and dissuade people from outside Haryana to come to NCR districts like Gurugram and Faridabad, which are perceived to have a robust private healthcare infrastructure.

Haryana Home-cum-Health Minister Anil Vij has said that 70 percent patients admitted in the hospitals of Gurugram and Faridabad for Covid treatment are from Delhi. The patients from Delhi and adjoining states are also admitted in various hospitals of Rohtak, Ambala, Karnal, Jhajjar among other districts. Currently, 42 private hospitals in the state are treating Covid patients, the Minister said.

Vij has warned of strict action against the private hospitals overcharging patients.

The Health Minister said that the private lab has also fixed the rate for conducting the Covid-19 test, under which Rs 450 have been fixed for RT-PCR, Rs 500 for rapid antigen and Rs 250 for ELISA test.