Private hospitals in Dhaka are charging exorbitant fees from Covid-19 patients exploiting the ongoing pandemic situation.
These hospitals are rolled out multiple package schemes from Covid-19 patents starting from Tk 3-4 lakh for a minimum 14 -day stay. This is sharp contrast to the free of cost treatment at the government hospitals.
The upper limit of packages is even higher and the hospital authorities even insist on advance payment before admitting the patients.
Public hospitals are flooded with patients as the spike in corona cases continue to break records. The spike in coronavirus cases forcing people to seek treatment from private hospitals.
In the past 24 hours till Monday, the confirmed coronavirus cases jumped to 68,504 with the detection of 2,735 more infections.
“With the government hospitals running out of beds, the private hospitals are taking advantage of the pandemic. The only objective of the hospitals even during such a heath crisis is profit. High fees charged by these hospitals should be strictly regulated by the government,” said Public Health expert Professor Dr Benazir Ahmed.
He cited that the country’s heathcare system is now highly dependent on private sector, which paves the way of exploitation for treatment seekers.
“The government should give more attention to public health system taking the experience of the pandemic situation,” he added.
Dr Benazir Ahmed also suggested the government to put a price cap on private hospitals for Covid-19 treatment.
During inquiries, a front desk executive at Square Hospital said, Rent “of an isolation room in the hospital is Tk 20,000 while the cost of ward bed is 3,500 per day.”
In addition, a Covid-19 patient will have to pay Tk 10,000 more as service charge.
In United Hospital, the room rent varies between Tk 8,5,00 and Tk 25,000 while the service charge also to be included for an admitted Covid-19 patient there.
In Lab-Aid Hospital the room rent is Tk 7,500 and service charge Tk 200 for per day stay there. An isolation cabin will cost Tk 8,500 in the Anwar Khan Modern Hospital. Patients will have to bear service charges and additional cost for COVID-19 confirmation test while taking treatment there.
Director (Hospital) at the Directorate General of Health Services Dr. Md. Aminul Hasan could not be reached despite several attempts on his cell phone.
