Private hospitals charge exorbitant fees from covid-19 patients ! – Parliamentary Committee

• Moderate pricing model could have averted many deaths 
• The Central Government should increase its investments in the public healthcare system

• The Central Government should force the concerned  private hospitals to shell out monetary compensation to the concerned patients and the relatives of the dead covid-19 patients.
• It is shameful that even after 72 years of Independence, the Government hospitals are not well equipped with the modern facilities, and the Government does not have check over such private hospitals.

New Delhi – Amid rising covid-19 cases, there were inadequate beds in Government hospitals and the absence of specific guidelines for covid-19 treatment. This resulted in private hospitals charging exorbitant treatment charges from covid-19 patients. Moderate pricing model could have averted many deaths, notes the Parliamentary Standing Committee on health in its report. Ram Gopal Yadav. Chairperson of this committee submitted the report to M Venkaiah Naidu, Rajya Sabha Chairman and Vice President. The committee has also recommended that the Central Government should increase its investments in the public healthcare system.

Parl panel submits 1st Covid report; indicates rural under-reporting; low health spending https://t.co/VMx96ilj4h

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The report of the committee says:

1. The healthcare expenditure in the country with a population of 1.3 billion is eextremely inadeqate. Additionally, the fragility of Indian citizens, posed a big hurdle in giving effective fight  in battling against the covid-19 pandemic.
2. The Government should target to spend 2.5 % of the GDP on healthcare until 2025.
3. Considering the inadequate healthcare facilities and the pandemic situation, there should be  better coordination between the Government and private hospitals.
4. The doctors who have died in the fight against the covid-19 pandemic should be acknowledged as martyrs and their families be adequately compensated.