Patient accuses CRH of overcharging ANAND OBEROI

GANGTOK, 16 Apr: A patient at the Central Referral Hospital, Tadong has accused the hospital management of overcharging and other discrepancies in billing. The patient has now refused to be discharged from the hospital until the hospital justifies what he has been billed.

According to the patient party, the 32-year-old youth was admitted to the hospital on 24 March with a fractured heel. He went through a surgery on 28 March, which, he was told, would cost Rs 10,000 if Indian implants were used and the amount would double if imported implants were used. After consulting doctors, the patient decided to go for imported implants. On the day of his discharge, on 15 April the bill given to him was, however, for Rs. 44,000, much higher than what they had prepared for.

The patient party further informs that the CRH management had billed Rs. 2,016 per “locking screw”, the MRP cost of which, they claim, is Rs.1600. Similarly, the MRP for a “calceneal plate” that was Rs. 14,210 had been inflated to Rs. 17,000, they allege further. The price of every item, including the “ortex screw” used in the surgery that cost Rs. 520 had been inflated to Rs. 650, they allege.

When they approached the Medical Superintendent regarding this, the MS called the pharmacy and the billing desk to make a new bill on the MRP given on the said instruments and also an additional 5 percent VAT/ Cess that brought down the bill to Rs. 37,000. According to the patient party, this proves that the earlier bill was faulty.

When this reporter tried to contact the people from the billing desk, the pharmacy and the Medical Superintendent, all refused to speak to the media.