Govt serves notice on Surya Hospital

The Pune district collectorate on Wednesday served a notice on the city-based Surya Hospital, demanding an “immediate explanation in writing” about the money collected by the hospital from German Bakery blast victim, Saqr Al-Bethany.

The notice was served with reference to a report in DNA that the hospital had collected Rs32,000 from Al-Bethany in spite of the state government’s directive that no money was to be charged from those injured in the blast.

The notice was dispatched to the administrator of Surya Hospital on Wednesday evening.

Taking serious cognizance of DNA reports over the past two days, the notice said that Saqr Al-Bethany (28) was treated at Surya Hospital, which was instructed by the government not to charge money from those injured in the blast. The cost of treatment should be debited to the government, it said.

Citing DNA’s December 14 report (Surya Hospital’s billing to be investigated), the district collectorate sought a written explanation with supportive documents from the hospital.

Following the terrorist attack at the German Bakery in Koregaon Park on February 13, which killed 17 people and injured more than 60, the district collectorate had issued an order on February 16 to all hospitals in the city treating the injured.

The order was based on the government resolution (GR) issued on the day after the blast, stating clearly that the state government would bear all cost of medical treatment and surgery of victims in private and government hospitals in the city.

The order said that the state government would directly reimburse the amount after being certified by the civil surgeon. Hence, no bills should be charged to persons undergoing treatment in
various hospitals.