Kharghar hospital billing dispute turns political as MNS raises concerns

Patient’s family alleges no surgery done, the hospital denies allegations, says family was kept in the loop as the bill increased

Navi Mumbai

Navi Mumbai MNS unit has complained to Konkan Commissioner to revoke the license of Medicover Hospital at Kharghar in Navi Mumbai, India, on Thursday, February 15, 2024. (Bachchan Kumar/ HT PHOTO)

A dispute over the final bill of ₹17 lakh raised by Kharghar-based Medicover Hospital for treatment given to a patient quickly turned political last week. The hospital had been providing treatment since January 21 to a critical patient admitted with multiple trauma following a major accident in Karjat.

The escalation of the final bill from ₹14 lakh as estimated on February 12 to the final bill of ₹17 lakh presented on February 14 prompted the patient’s family to seek help from Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS).

The party, in turn, raised the matter with the Konkan commissioner, Belapur, seeking a thorough probe into the billing system of the hospital.

A formal complaint was made to the Konkan Commissioner on February 14 by the public and infrastructure wing of the MNS. “In the complaint, we have sought from the authorities to scrutinise at least 100 previous bills of the hospital. There have been repeated instances in the past when the hospital has raised inflated bills causing immense distress to the relatives,” said Sanjay Tanna, the President of the Wing.

Having paid over ₹8 lakh of the bill, the Thange family ran from pillar to post to make arrangements for the remaining amount. The MNS intervention was sought in the hope of getting financial aid.

“The final billing of ₹17 lakh was a complete shocker. MNS was approached for financial aid. Almost ₹2 lakh was additionally spent on medicines too,” said a relative, Ketan Borade.

Meanwhile, the party has sought termination of the hospital license along with a probe into the allotment of the plot from CIDCO.

Lease deed documents between the Trust and CIDCO are suggested by the party to reveal multiple violations. “Over 30,000 sq. meter land was procured from CIDCO by paying a measly sum of ₹51 lakh under the pretext of building a hospital. As per the terms and conditions, the trust was required to construct the hospital in 10 years, but instead, it took another 24 years for the facility to come up. Even after the extensive delay, the facility was handed over to a corporate entity, with nothing meant for the poor and needy,” said Tanna.

Tanna further states, “As per the ready reckoner rate, the land on which the hospital is constructed will cost over ₹650 crore, and we have demanded that CIDCO should recover this amount from the trust as it has violated the lease.”

Even as the matter raised by MNS is pending with both CIDCO and the Konkan Commissioner’s office, the hospital maintains to have followed complete transparency in the billing process by regularly updating the relatives about the developments.

The issue is stated by the hospital to be politicised even as the patient and relatives have no complaints or issues.

“The hospital had advised discharge when the bill reached ₹14.5 lakh. The discharge was postponed at the request of the relatives as an aid of ₹5 lakh through CM funds was expected. Eventually, the discharge was planned for February 15. In a gesture of goodwill, Medicover Hospitals extended support by offering a ₹2 lakh discount on the final bill of ₹17.2 lakh. The final bill was willingly settled by the relatives. A letter of appreciation to the hospital staff was also provided by the relatives stating that they have no complaints,” said the hospital management.