New Delhi, Nov 24 (PTI) The National PharmaceuticalPricing Authority (NPPA) has asked Fortis Healthcare toprovide copies of bills in relation to the case of allegedovercharging of a dengue patient by its hospital in Gurugram.
Reacting to reports that Fortis Gurugram chargedapproximately Rs 16 lakh from Jayant Singh for treatment ofdengue of his late daughter Adya, NPPA shot off a letter thecompany's CEO/MD seeking copies of invoices/bills raised,name of medicines administered along with details of quantityand price charged towards medicines and consumables.
Citing the reports, NPPA in its letter said apart fromthe hospital charges, "the billing include the inflated costof medicines, syringes and injectables etc".
"NPPA is mandated to enquire and take action on caseswherever there is a violation of various provisions of DrugPrice Control order, 2013," it said in the letter.
Cautioning the healthcare chain to respond with theinformation sought, NPPA said in case of failure, its teamwill inspect records of the hospital to collect information.
When contacted, a Fortis Healthcare spokesperson told PTIthe company has received the letter from NPPA and wouldrespond to it within the December 6 deadline.
NPPA's action comes a day after the union Health Ministryasked all states to issue strict warnings and take actionagainst hospitals, including private ones, which indulge inmalpractices such as overcharging and do not follow standardtreatment protocols.
Earlier, Health Minister J P Nadda had sought a "detailedreport" from the private hospital in the matter.
Already, the Haryana government has set up a three-membercommittee to probe allegations that Gurugram's Fortis Hospitalovercharged the family of the 7-year-old girl, who died ofdengue.
Union minister Ram Vilas Paswan has also weighed in,saying her parents should approach consumer court for adequatecompensation. PTI AKT RKLABM.
This is unedited, unformatted feed from the Press Trust of India wire.