Citizens start survey on hosp billing practices after Pune incident

Mumbai: Considering the Pune incident in which a woman died because a trust-run hospital refused to admit her for delivery without a deposit of Rs 10 lakh, a citizen's group has started an online survey to assess people's views on the billing system of private hospitals. The five-question survey in seven languages has gathered 600 responses since it went online on Tuesday, with 450 responses coming from Maharashtra.

"Around 88% of Maharashtra's respondents said they paid 'unexpectedly high' or 'unfair bills' at private hospitals," said Dr Abhay Shukla, a public health specialist who is a member of the Patients Rights Now that started the one-month-long survey.

Bhise's family took her to Deenanath Mangeshkar Hospital on March 28 due to her complicated pregnancy, but the hospital demanded a deposit of Rs 10 lakh. The family then took her to Sassoon Hospital, and then to Surya Hospital, where she delivered premature twin girls via Caesarean section. She was transferred to Manipal Hospital but passed away on March 31. A few days ago, a state-appointed probe committee found Deenanath Mangeshkar Hospital in violation of emergency care norms.

"In the context of the Pune case, we wanted to document people's voices and experiences with private and charity trust-run hospitals across the country,"said Dr Shukla. The responses over two days indicate that 98% of the respondents want the state govt to regulate rates in private hospitals. Efforts were made to introduce capping of rates at private hospitals in one of the earlier drafts of the Maharashtra Clinical Establishments Act 2014.

"There is a case in the Supreme Court filed by the Jan Swasthya Abhiyan seeking that costs should be regulated in private hospitals and patients' rights should be implemented. This has been opposed by the private medical lobby" said Dr Shukla.