KOLKATA: The West Bengal Clinical Establishment Regulatory Commission (WBCERC) has capped the charges on five radiological tests and 15 pathological tests, including several which are often recommended to Covid patients. An order to this effect was passed by the health panel on Friday, mentioning that all private hospitals with more than 150 beds are bound to follow it.
The commission said it has been getting complaints of high investigation charges, especially from Covid patients throughout the pandemic. The decision to fix the rates was taken after recommendations from two expert committees.
“We had sought inputs from two committees to decide on the reasonable charges for these tests. Even as we had shared the charges with some big hospitals, some said they needed a formal order. Now, with this order all have to abide by this rate,” said WBCERC chairman Justice (retired) Ashim Kumar Banerjee.
Private hospitals, however, have questioned the blanket capping of the rates for all types of patients.
“Why would the charge be applicable to a corporate patients staying in a single cabin or a deluxe room? We request the commission to reconsider this order by defining the patient type on whom these charges are applicable,” said Peerless CEO Sudipta Mitra.
Private hospitals also said a hospital lab is functional 24x7 unlike standalone diagnostic labs.
“Capping of rates, especially for a premier hospital, works against the principle of cross-subsidization,” said Rupali Basu, managing director, Woodlands Multispecialty Hospital.
“Labs in private hospitals run 24x7 unlike diagnostic centres. So manpower and maintenance, including quality control cost, is much higher,” said president Association of Hospitals of Eastern India Rupak Barua.
“The capped price is applicable for tests conducted on non-Covid patients as well,” said the commission chairman.
