Contrary to providing free beds and concessional rates, the 525 victims in the 7/11 serial bomb blasts last year have been charged medical expenses at commercial rates by private hospitals.
Contrary to providing free beds and concessional rates, the 525 victims in the 7/11 serial bomb blasts last year have been charged medical expenses at commercial rates by private hospitals.
This has come to light in a reply given by Western Railway to a Right to Information (RTI) application filed by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) former MP Dr Kirit Somaiya. However, speaking to DNA on Wednesday, official spokespersons for Jaslok and Hinduja hospitals denied the charge.
The Railways made a payment of Rs3,16,42,234 crore for the victims who were treated at 21 major private hospitals across the city. The state and central governments had announced that they would foot the expenses of victims undergoing treatment at private hospitals.
The hospitals were directed to forward medical bills of blast victims. According to the information given by the Western Railways, private hospitals were charging Rs500 to Rs800 for patients in their General Wards.
The bed charges ranged from Rs600 to Rs750 per day, visiting charges of Interns and Resident Medical Officers ranged from Rs200 to Rs600 as well as other charges.
Executive Director of Jaslok Hospital, Colonel (retired) BS Khemani denied the charge. He said that comatose patient Amit Singh was initially admitted to JJ Hospital and then shifted to Jaslok hospital on July 13 and given a free bed. “Singh and other patients were charged at subsidised rates,” he added.
PD Hinduja Hospital sources said comatose patient Parag Sawant was provided with common category bed accommodation and no commercial rates were charged.
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