NPPA issues notice to Fortis in Adya dengue death case

After the Union Health Ministry came down heavily on private-run Fortis Hospital at Gurgaon as allegations of overcharging were levelled against it in the case of 7-year-old Adya Singh, the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority has now slapped a notice on the hospital.

A letter written to the CEO of Fortis Healthcare by NPPA states, “You are required to provide copies of invoices/bills raised, name of the medicines administered to the patient along with details of quantity/price charged to the patient towards medicines and consumables, in enclosed proforma, duly reconciled with the amount shown in the bill to the patient.”

“The information must reach NPPA. Please note that this office shall not issue any reminder for this information and in case of failure, NPPA team will inspect the records of the hospital to collect information under Para 30 of the Drug (Prices Control) Order, 2013.” NPPA is mandated to take action in cases wherever there is a violation of various provisions of DPCO, 2013.

It will seek information about all medicines, injections and other consumables used or administered, strength and dosages as well as the pack size of formulation, number of units utilized, name of manufacturer or marketing company, purchase price of the hospital, printed MRP on drugs/devices and billed to patient including taxes.

The inquiry will ascertain if the hospital procured drugs at a cheaper rate and what profits were made while billing it to patient at expensive prices if any.