Probe Continental Hosp: HC

The Telangana High Court on Friday directed the Director of Public Health and district medical and health officer, Ranga Reddy district, to conduct an inquiry against Continental Hospitals and take action, following a complaint that it had charged `1 lakh per day to treat a Covid-19 patient and had refused to hand over the body till the bills were cleared.

Justice T. Vinod Kumar was dealing with a petition filed by Kondapuram Lavanya.

Her counsel Balaji Yelamanjula said the hospital had charged around `9 lakh for nine days. As per the government orders, the highest charges for ICU with ventilator and isolation would be `9,000 per day. Counsel said the hospital had not informed the police or GHMC about the death of the patient on July 22, which is mandatory. Counsel said the hospital demanded the balance amount, till the petitioner approached the court.

Vikram Pusala, counsel, representing Continental Hospitals, said the body was handed over to the family in the presence of the police. He said the body was not taken by the family members on Thursday.

Justice Vinod Kumar faulted both the petitioner and the hospital management for the handling of the issue. He asked the hospital why it had not followed the protocol of handing over the body and asked the petitioner why she had not approached the specified helpline.

The judge also deprecated advocates for rushing to the media even before cases are taken up, garnering needless publicity even in a human tragedy.