BENGALURU: Simmering discontent over mandatory hospitalisation for asymptomatic international travellers testing positive for Covid-19 on arrival boiled over on Monday, with a woman kicking up a row over the huge estimated bill presented by a private hospital where her husband, who had returned from the US via Europe, has been admitted.
Sunitha R told TOI her husband paid Rs 3,000 and underwent the mandatory RT-PCR test on arrival at the airport on December 29.
He was found positive. He was moved to Bowring hospital for mandatory isolation and was shifted to a private hospital the same day.
“The hospital is supposed to charge according to BBMP guidelines, but I have received a bill of Rs 1. 1 lakh,” Sunitha said. “My husband is asymptomatic, but the hospital is running a series of tests on him and charging hefty fees for laboratory investigation, radiology investigation, physiotherapy and medicines among others,” Sunitha said.
“Asymptomatic patients should be allowed home isolation with strict monitoring instead of being fleeced by hospitals."
However, Manipal Hospitals, Sarjapura Road, where Sunitha’s husband is admitted, insisted that the bill is only an estimate and the final one at the time of discharge will be based on government-mandated tariffs. But Sunitha said hospital staff told her that the bill for the first five days had already touched Rs 83,000.
It was only when she showed the hospital a copy of the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike public notice – procured with much difficulty – which states private hospitals must charge according to government stipulated prices, did the hospital say that it is only an estimate and not the final bill.
AS Balasundar, chief health officer, BBMP, said the bill presented to the patient’s wife was an estimate and the final bill will be calculated based on government tariff.
“If international travellers opt for private hospitals, they need to pay according to the tariff stipulated by the government. We have given flyers the option of isolating in government hospitals too,” Balasundar said.
A BBMP order dated December 10, 2021 reads, “…the prescribed cost shall be entirely borne by the patient. However, cost of treatment shall not exceed slabs mentioned in govt notification…”
A Manipal Hospitals spokesperson said they are sticking to rules published by the government. “We are coordinating with BBMP authorities and adhering to guidelines prescribed for international travellers who are suspected to be infected with the Omicron variant,” the spokesperson told TOI.
