Pune: Private hospitals should aim at making a reasonable profit from COVID-19 patients with a humane approach, if hospitals are found overcharging COVID-19 patients more than the rates fixed by the Maharashtra State government, they will be charged five times the bill.

On Friday, Health Minister Rajesh Tope said, "Private hospitals that charge more would have a case filed against the management of the hospital by the district collector and the commissioner." He spoke to the press after a function at Senapati Bapat Road in Pune.

Tope said, "the government has fixed rates for treatment in private hospitals considering all types of investigations. It is an offence to charge more than the stipulated amount. The disputed hospital bills are being checked by the auditors and then paid to the families. However, if more bills are found, they will not be deducted."

Tope also stated that the jumbo hospital with ICU beds would soon be set up to treat COVID-19 patients. Further to that, the capacity of ordinary beds, oxygen beds, ventilator beds in ICUs and non-ventilator beds are also being increased in Pune. The recovery rate of COVID-19 patients in Pune is good. "Also, lower mortality rates will reduce the incidence of morbidity," he added.

Collector, Commissioner should take to the field

Health Minister Tope instructed, saying, "The Collector and the Commissioners should take to the streets or on the fields to know the grounds realities of COVID-19 outbreak and the condition. Only then will this pattern be rectified."

He said, "All the district collectors and municipal commissioners in the state have been instructed to appoint teams, to check and scrutinised the hospital bills of such pandemic patients."