Many private hospitals have taken disadvantage of the fear and helplessness of patients during the Corona pandemic and exploited the situation by charging exorbitant rates for treatment. Pathology Labs, Diagnostic Centres and medical stores too have exploited the situation and looted patients. In one such case, ‘Sharp Diagnostic Private Ltd. (Mega Vision scans)’ and ‘Nucleus Diagnostics’ from Pimpri (Pune) had charged Rs.5500/- in excess to Shri. Vishwanath Avaghade and family. They have however, managed to get back this amount with the help of ‘Arogya Sahayya Samiti’ and Shri. Avaghade has therefore thanked Hindu Janajagruti Samiti (HJS) for the same.
Instead of the government approved charges of Rs.2500/- per covid positive patient for ‘CT Scan’, the ‘Sharp Diagnostic Private Ltd. (Mega Vision scans)’ had charged Rs. 4000/- from two members of Shri. Avaghade family and Rs. 4500/- from another member of the same family. Thus, they were made to pay an additional Rs.5000/- whereas ‘Nucleus Diagnostics’ had charged Rs. 3000/- to Shri. Vishwanath Avaghade for CT scan instead of Rs. 2500/- i. e. Rs. 500/- in excess. Shri. Avaghade had approached ‘Arogya Sahayya Samiti (the Samiti)’ for help in this matter.
The Samiti guided him about a decision taken by Maharashtra Government on September 24, 2020 giving directions to charge Rs.2500/- for CT scan. Shri. Avaghade, as advised by ‘the Samiti’, lodged a complaint with ‘Sharp Diagnostic Private Ltd. (Mega Vision scans)’ as well as ‘Nucleus Diagnostics’ in this context. He attached all the necessary documents with his complaint such as doctor’s prescription, bill, investigation report etc. and demanded to take a decision within two days and the additional amount charged to him should be refunded. The Samiti also instructed the diagnostic centres to take prompt action on Shri. Avaghade’s complaint; while attaching a copy of Government Resolution by Maharashtra Government. Both the diagnostic centres have since refunded the additional amount of Rs.5500/- collected from Shri. Avaghade.
Shri. Avaghade later thanked the Samiti and said that every needy citizen should take inspiration from the above incident. The Arogya Sahayya Samiti has therefore, made an appeal to people that they should verify the amount collected from them for taking CT scan and other treatment for Corona since patients are being cheated by charging them an excessive rate for CT scans.
