Following reports of several private hospitals fleecing the Covid-19 patients with exorbitant charges, the Telangana high court on Thursday directed that the state government take stringent action against them including cancellation of their licences.
The high court, which took up the hearing on a batch of petitions questioning the inept handling of the Covid-19 situation by the Telangana government, directed that the government act firmly on the complaints received from the people against the private hospitals.
“Serve notices on the private hospitals and then proceed against them legally. There is no option for the private hospitals but to follow the government order fixing the cap on hospital charges. If they collect fees indiscriminately, their licences should be cancelled immediately,” the high court said.
The court also ordered that the private hospitals display boards indicating the charges to be collected by them for treating Covid-19 patients.
“When the private hospitals are utilising the facilities being extended by the government, why can’t they provide treatment to the poor free of cost?” the court asked and directed that these hospitals should give details of the free treatment being extended to the poor.
The high court also sought to know why the government cannot take over beds in private hospitals for Covid-19 patients as was being done by the Delhi government.
It asked the government to submit a fresh report to the court within two weeks on the steps being taken with regard to preventing spread of Corona disease in the state.