CHANDIGARH/GURGAON: A private hospital charged an 85-year-old Haryana government pensioner Rs 6.02 lakh separately for medicines and consumables over and above the Rs 1.35 lakh package for heart treatment, prompting the Punjab and Haryana high court to order the state government to reimburse his entire medical bill of Rs 7.42 lakh with 6% annual interest.The court also directed the health department to audit package rates at all government-empanelled private hospitals and take corrective action against violations.Following the May 5 judgment, the Gurgaon civil surgeon’s office has sought treatment bills, discharge summaries and patient-related records from 34 empanelled private hospitals in the city to verify whether they are charging beneficiaries in accordance with government-notified rates.The case stems from treatment received by Hukam Singh, a retired Haryana government employee, at Paras Hospital in Panchkula in April 2023 for coronary artery disease. His counsel told the court that the hospital had initially assured him that the package would cover procedural and admission costs.However, while the angiography/angioplasty package was Rs 1.05 lakh and the rotablation package cost an additional Rs 30,000, the hospital raised a separate bill of Rs 6.02 lakh for medicines and consumables. Singh challenged the charges, arguing that these expenses should have been covered under the government-approved package.Disposing of his civil writ petition, Justice Harpreet Singh Brar criticised the practice of hospitals quoting lower package rates to attract patients and subsequently charging separately for essential procedures, medicines and consumables.The court directed the director general of health services (DGHS) to verify package rates at all empanelled hospitals, either personally or through civil surgeons. It said hospitals found violating the policy should face appropriate corrective measures, including cancellation of their licences.The court also stressed that hospitals must explain treatment costs and applicable charges to patients or their attendants in a language they understand, instead of merely obtaining signatures on standardised forms. It further asked the DGHS to consider bringing intravascular lithotripsy (IVL) under standard state package rates for coronary artery disease procedures.The health department has been directed to complete the exercise and submit a compliance report within three months.34 Gurgaon hospitals under scrutinyActing on the high court’s directions, the Gurgaon civil surgeon’s office has written to 34 empanelled private hospitals, seeking treatment bills, discharge summaries and undertakings from patients’ attendants. Hospitals have also been asked to provide details of the explanations given to patients about the applicable government-approved rates and charges.“The process has started. We have already received details in some cases and are carrying out verification,” chief medical officer Dr Virender Baswana told TOI.The hospitals named in the exercise include Medanta, Artemis Hospitals, Fortis Memorial Research Institute, Paras Hospital, Park Hospital, Signature Hospital, Manipal Hospital, SG T Medical College Hospital and Research Institute, and Narayana Superspeciality Hospital, among others.The hospitals have been asked to submit their reports through a special messenger to the civil surgeon’s account branch for onward submission to higher authorities. The scrutiny will examine whether beneficiaries were charged beyond prescribed package rates and whether hospitals adequately explained the applicable charges.Separate push to improve cashless healthcare accessMeanwhile, a separate communication issued by the Ayushman Bharat-Haryana Health Protection Authority (AB-HHPA) on Oct 9 has highlighted gaps in access to government cashless healthcare schemes.Referring to directions issued by the Haryana Human Rights Commission on Aug 31, the authority called for uniform implementation of the Comprehensive Cashless Health Facility (CCHF) scheme across the state.Officials have been directed to identify and verify eligible beneficiaries and map their details in the relevant human resource management system or database. They have also been asked to facilitate the issuance of CCHF e-cards, particularly for senior citizens, widow pensioners, persons with disabilities, rural residents and those facing digital access difficulties.The authority has also called for accessible, time-bound grievance redress mechanisms to ensure beneficiaries do not have to make repeated visits to different offices to complete formalities.
