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Private hospitals in Amritsar asked not to overcharge for dengue test
To stop private hospitals from taking advantage of the dengue situation in the district, authorities on Thursday asked such hospitals and laboratories not to charge over Rs 600 for the vector-borne disease test.
To stop private hospitals from taking advantage of the dengue situation in the district, authorities on Thursday asked such hospitals and laboratories not to charge over Rs 600 for the vector-borne disease test.
With about 12 new cases of dengue being reported every day in the district, the number has risen to 231 in three weeks, according to data provided by the district health authorities.
“As per the notification issued by the Punjab health and family welfare department, all hospitals and laboratories in private sector are instructed not to charge over Rs 600,” deputy commissioner Varun Roojam said at a meeting of anti-dengue task force here.
All these tests are available for free at the government hospitals but private ones have been charging fee which could cost upto Rs 1, 500 for a single test.
Test named ELISA (enzyme –linked immunosobent assay) is being conducted on the suspected patients for the confirmation of the disease.
“We have received this notification. We will be sending this notification to Indian Medical Council and they will issue the notification to private hospitals,’’ said, district civil surgeon Dr Pradeep Chawla
When asked about measures to check the violators, he replied, “Patients can come and report violations to us, desired action will be taken against the guilty.’’
District epidemiologist Dr. Madan Mohan, sub-divisional magistrate Ajnala, Anupreet Kaur and others were present in the meeting.
