NEW DELHI: A CPI member in Rajya Sabha today sought government's intervention to stop private hospitals from charging exorbitant rates for 'stents' and exploiting the patients.
Raising the issue during Zero Hour, M P Achuthan (CPI) said private hospitals were exploiting patients for treatment of cardio-vascular diseases by charging highly excessive rates for stents used in the operations.
"Government has fixed a price of Rs 23,625 for stents, but private hospitals who are providing stents are charging Rs 55,000 to Rs 80,000," he said, adding that most stents were imported from three American companies.
"There is no regulation and control on prices of stents. The hospitals charge as they like...This kind of exploitation must stop and government must take action. Government must intervene," he said.
Raising another issue, A V Swamy (Ind) highlighted the problem of bonded labour in Odisha and sought government's intervention, saying without this, the matter could escalate into a major problem.
He said though forced labour was practiced by the feudal class in Odisha, the state government has always denied it but the menace of bonded labour still existed.
Maintaining that he had raised the issue several times in the past but no action was initiated, Swamy said 1200 labourers released in 1981-1982 have not been rehabilitated till date.
"I raised the issue in 2013 and 2014 in this House, but there has been no response from the Minister. I urge the government to take immediate action or else the matter will be blown up and may escalate," he said.
Rajkumar Dhoot (SS) sought steps to check the growing incidence of vector-borne diseases in the country, especially in Mumbai ahead of the monsoons.
He demanded that government should take steps in advance to check diseases like dengue, and the national immunisation programme should be taken up on a war-footing.
Dhoot also expressed concern over the plight of tribals, especially in Maharashtra and Gujarat, who were suffering from certain diseases for generations.