The post covers FIR against LifeLine hospital Zirakpur for Overcharging wherein SDM submitted report ascertaining the same.

Facts:                            

An inquiry was marked against the private hospital after a deceased patient’s family alleged overcharging by the hospital and denial to give the body without clearance of bills. The patient, Paramjit Singh, was suffering from severe pneumonia due to Covid-19 when he was admitted to the hospital on April 26. He died on May 14

A day after the submission of the inquiry report, an FIR has been registered against Lifeline Hospital, Zirakpur, for overcharging. The inquiry report has been forwarded to a medical board to determine the extent of medical negligence and the subsequent punitive action.

The three-member committee probing overcharging and other allegations against New Lifeline Hospital, Zirakpur, has found the latter to be at fault and recommended strict action.

In its report, the committee stated that there was overcharging and grave lapses in medical record management by the hospital authorities. The inquiry report mentioned the rates charged by the hospital to be exorbitantly high. It also said that the hospital didn’t have National Accredited Board of Hospitals (NABH) certification

Also Read- FIR against Zirakpur hospital for overcharging – Tribune India

The rates they are charging for an ICU bed with ventilator are not as per the norms issued by the Punjab government, the report stated.

The claims made by the hospital that the patient was being treated as per medical protocols also fell flat as the hospital could not produce any treatment record of the patient. In fact, the entire medical record management system was found to be faulty.

The hospital authorities argument that they had given LAMA (left against medical advice) to the patient’s family to shift the patient to another hospital could not be established as the hospital failed to produce any documentary evidence in this context. Even the basic Covid care guidelines like wearing of PPE kits by the sanitation staff were not adhered to, the report mentioned.

The panel report reads, “New Lifeline Hospital Zirakpur failed to show before the committee NABH certificate, stock register, patient’s summary/ treatment record, LAMA summary/ discharged certificate. In view of above, it is ascertained that there was medical negligence on part of the hospital, and the only treating doctor, Munish Goel, cannot be ruled out as no record pertaining to treatment has been put herewith.”

Even the behaviour of Dr Munish Goel, the only treating doctor of the hospital is not as per his profession, as he has been found to be very rude and violent towards patients and their attendants, the report adds.

FIR against LifeLine hospital Zirakpur for Overcharging
FIR against LifeLine hospital Zirakpur for Overcharging

Also Read- Overcharging: Probe panel indicts Zirakpur hospital

Judgment/Rulings:

  • The probe panel comprising the local sub-divisional magistrate, deputy superintendent of police, and senior medical officer on Monday submitted its report to the deputy commissioner, recommending strict action and booking the hospital authorities under sections 51 (b) and 58 of the National Disaster Management Act and Section 3 of Epidemic Disease Act.
  • Deputy Commissioner Girish Dayalan said Punjab Health Minister Balbir Singh Sidhu had announced that a state-level committee would soon conduct a detailed audit of the treatment of Covid-19 patients by private hospitals. He said anyone could file a complaint about fleecing on the 104 helpline number of the Health Department and action would be taken immediately.
  • Directing all private hospitals in the district to prominently display government-capped Covid treatment charges, Dayalan said to prevent these hospitals from exploiting patients, the government had fixed the charges for different category of hospitals according to the illness status of the patient.
  • Hospitals had also been advised to exhibit the name of the nodal officer for grievance redressal so that patients’ family/attendant could approach the office concerned and air their grievances. Reiterating strict action against hospitals overcharging Covid patients, he said stringent action under the Epidemic Diseases Act would be taken against erring hospitals. The government was empowered to shut the hospital or take control over it, if need be, he warned.

Also Read- Report indicts Zirakpur hospital, may face closure

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