Panel caps prices of protective gear in West Bengal

KOLKATA: In an attempt to stop private hospitals from overcharging Covid patients, the West Bengal Clinical Establishment Regulatory Commission has capped the prices of certain consumables and services. An advisory from the health panel has also asked hospitals not to add to the economic burden of patients by prescribing costly drugs. Instead, it has asked hospitals to offer a choice of different brands of drugs to patients.
The commission has capped the cost of protective items like masks and sanitizers for OPD patients.Now, hospitals can charge a maximum of Rs 150 from an OPD patient on account of Covid protection (masks/sanitizers) — Rs 50 for the patient, Rs 50 for relatives accompanying him/her and Rs 50 if the patient is examined by a doctor in full PPE.

“It has come to the notice of the commission that hospitals are charging diverse amounts from OPD patient in the guise of sanitary charges,” said the advisory, fixing uniform charges for all hospital.
Some hospitals, however, said they were not levying any sanitary charges from a patient who turn up at the OPD wearing a proper mask. “If the patient or his/her relative do not come wearing masks, we ask them to buy an a surgical mask that costs Rs 10,” said Sudipta Mitra, CEO of Peerless Hospital.
“A large number of drugs — antibiotics, antifungals, analgesics — are available in different price ranges. Most clinical establishments are billing patients with the highest price brand available. This puts huge financial burden on patients. They should be offered to choose what brand they want to purchase,” said the advisory.
The commission has said that high-end antibiotics like meropenem is available by other name at a lower cost. It said that unless the doctor prescribes, pharmacists should supply the lower price brands and hospitals should ensure steady stock of other brands.
“The panel has come out with this advisory keeping in mind the patients’ interest. But many doctors believe that the branded ones, being original research products, have more efficacy than the cheaper versions. It is always a good move to bring uniformity in service charges. But certain aspects like what brand of drug should be used is left best to the doctors,” said a critical care specialist of a private hospital.
The commission, headed by retired justice Ashim Kumar Banerjee, has also been receiving complaints of some labs charging high home collection fees. The commission has now fixed the home-collection charge at Rs 15 per km. The government earlier had already capped the test price to Rs 2,250.
The health panel has also clarified hospitals that the PPE charges of Rs 1,000 per day per patient should include charges for ancillary items such as sanitizer, additional gloves, head gears etc. No additional amount should be charged for these items, hospitals have been told.