Haryana fixes rates for Covid-19 treatment in private hospitals

CHANDIGARH: The Haryana government has finally capped cost for Covid-19 treatment in private hospitals in the state. The rates, ranging from Rs 8,000 to Rs 18,000 per day, have been fixed by the Khattar government for those opting for treatment in private hospitals for Covid-19 under different categories of facilities.
For Non-NABH (National Accreditation Board for Hospitals & Healthcare) accredited hospitals in the state, Rs 8,000 per day has been fixed for patients admitted for moderate sickness on isolation beds, including supportive care and oxygen; Rs 13,000 for severe sickness, including ICU without ventilator care; and Rs 15,000 for very severe sickness, including ICU with ventilator care.

For those admitted to NABH-accredited hospitals, the state government has prescribed Rs 10,000 for moderate sickness, Rs 15,000 for severe sickness including ICU without ventilator and Rs 18,000 for very severe sickness, including ICU with ventilator.
“The state government is making all efforts to make healthcare accessible to the general public and providing free testing and treatment in government hospitals across the state. However, the disparity in the charges across various private hospitals is hampering egalitarian and equal access for inpatient hospital care. Therefore, the rates of various facilities in private hospitals/medical colleges need to be standardized for Covid-19 patients,” according to the order issued by Rajeev Arora, additional chief secretary, health and family welfare department, Haryana.
The order dated June 25 prescribing a cap on the rates has been issued by the state after going through the recommendations of the committee under Dr V K Paul, NITI Aayog member, and taking into account the financial viability of private hospitals and studying precedents in other states like Delhi, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra and Telangana.
When asked, Arora said that they have not gone into what others have done but only lifted the Delhi model, which was based on the NITI Aayog committee recommendations. He said they have also considered the recommendations made by the state’s own two committees from Gurgaon and Faridabad. Arora also admitted that they had received some complaints about excess charges by some private hospitals in the state for treatment.
The decision has been taken by the state in exercise of the powers bestowed under Section 2 of the Epidemic Disease Act. Non-adherence to these orders may invoke penalty under Section 188 of the IPC.