Private hospital in Vijayapura offers Covid treatment at half the cost

Vijayapura: At a time when private hospital managements are being hauled up for fleecing Covid-19 patients, BM Patil Medical College Hospital and Research Centre, the constituent college of Bijapur Lingayat District Educational Association (Deemed to be University) in Vijayapura, is offering treatment at half the cost fixed by the government.
MB Patil, chairman, BLDE Association, said: “Our hospital [a private facility] has been a charity-based and service-oriented institution and has been providing world-class treatment at very economic prices.This is not first time that we are offering 50% concession. We have been responding to grievances of common people during floods, earthquakes, drought and other natural calamities.”
Dr MS Biradar, vice-chancellor, BLDEDU, the decision was taken after seeing many middle-class and poor patients being deprived of quality treatment due to high costs.
“Many are hesitating to get admitted and people are dying,” Biradar said. “That’s why we have reduced charges. Rent in our general ward for Covid is now Rs 5,000 instead of Rs 10,000 and Rs 10,000 instead of Rs 15,000 for oxygen beds. Charges of ICU and ventilator wards have been slashed to Rs 15,000 instead of Rs 25,000. All procedures and treatment will be conducted as per government guidelines.”
Dr Ravikiran Metri, a resident of Jath, Sangli district, said his uncle’s saturation level had dropped to 70 last month. “We took him to BLDE in the middle of the night and they admitted him immediately, allowing us to do the documentation the next day. Considering his economic condition, they waived 50% of the bill. People in Sangli, Solapur and other districts of Maharashtra always prefer BLDE.”
Vijaykumar Halkude, a retired PWD engineer in Vijayapura, who recovered from Covid, said BLDE has always been a front-runner in providing treatment. “They have separate wards and staff for Covid and non-Covid patients,” Halkude said. “Specialists are kind and treat us with dignity. They also provide quality food.”