On Monday (May 12, 2021), the Kerala high court approved the state government's order to cap the Covid treatment price and reserve 50% beds in private hospitals for COVID patients.
A bench of Justices Devan Ramachandran and Kauser Edappagth added that "We are more pleased with the GO."
Court order
According to the order dated May 10, 2021, will be implemented by the government and all stakeholders, and any admissions after this order will be governed by the rates. All private hospitals would be bound to offer treatment strictly as per GO and any violation will be strictly dealt with in court.
"When the public is putting all their life savings for treatment, the private hospitals can also sacrifice. This situation will continue only for a few months more", Justice Ramachandran expressed, on a note of optimism
Take Over 50% Beds From Private Hospitals
A plea was filed before the high court regarding high prices of treatment in private hospitals during covid -19 Plea also stated that the number of active COVID-19 cases was increasing day by day, the admission facilities in hospitals become downwards. A common man cannot handle the high price.
During the hearing of the matter last week, the Court had made several suggestions for the State to consider, including the government taking over 50 percent of beds in private hospitals for a temporary period in view of the COVID-19 pandemic.on Monday, the State counsel informed the Court that the government has issued an order.
Prices as per the GO
Including registration, bed, nursing, and boarding, blood transfusion, oxygen, Xray, consultation, diagnosis, etc, the Price for the general ward would be Rs. 2,645, the State counsel said.
Expenses for costly medicines like Remdesivir will be separate while the rate for RT-PCR test would remain at Rs. 500 as fixed by the government earlier.
The Court also suggested that,
"Government should implement Grievance redressal mechanisms and Incident commanders appointed by the Government under the Disaster Management Act, 2005 (DM Act). As per court order, Private hospitals should display their prices of covid -19 treatment and The government considers adding on hospital beds from time to time The State to also consider taking auditoriums, hotels, halls, hostels, and such others for bed."
