Dengue, Chikungunya patients forced to pay hefty fee for treatment
FollowReported cases of overcharging by private city hospitals came to light during a special meet of the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) yesterday.
Heated exchange was witnessed between the ruling and opposition members of the Palike at the meet, convened to discuss rising cases of Dengue and other vector-borne diseases in the city.
There was an uproar in the meet when BBMP opposition leader Padmanabha Reddy alleged that a private hospital in the city has charged a whopping ₹16 lakhs for treating a dengue patient. Reddy complained that the ruling party has failed to take any disciplinary action against such hospitals which are engaging in such mal-practices.
Reddy questioned Palike authorities’ efforts to take preventive steps in the wake of rising cases of dengue in and around the city.
Mayor Manjunatha Reddy, in the meet, warned hospitals against levying high charges and said that the BBMP authorities would not hesitate to take any punitive action against erring hospitals. The Mayor assured that senior officers have been working to find a solution for garbage disposal and ensure effective implementation garbage segregation.
The corporators’ meet concluded that campaigns emphasising on awareness programme about Dengue, Chikungunya and other vector-borne diseases, should be held regularly and BBMP ward members should pro-actively inspect their wards to check if preventive measures are implemented or not.
Karnataka Health Minister U T Khader has stressed the need for civic and health workers to focus on the health and hygiene of the city in light of dreaded diseases like Dengue and Chikungunya spreading their wings in Bengaluru.
Urging citizens to lend their co-operation to this initiative, he said, “nothing great ever achieved without support and participation by the masses.”
He asked people to be alert and seek medical intervention as soon as ailments like Dengue, Chikungunya are noticed, as necessary treatment is being provided, free of cost, at government and BBMP hospitals.
