Arogya Sahayya Samiti demand penal action against 2 Thane hospitals looting patients

Will approach the Court if criminal cases are not registered against hospitals for looting the patients – Warning by Arogya Sahayya Samiti

At present, the coronavirus pandemic is spreading. By taking undue advantage of the situation, two private hospitals in Thane, ‘Thane Health Care’ and ‘Suffire’ have charged excessive bills and detained the patients needlessly. The Thane Municipal Corporation officers have imposed a nominal fine of Rs. 16 lakhs on these 2 hospitals. However, imposing fines is not a sufficient punishment in this case but it is essential to register criminal cases against the hospitals and make them pay the compensation to the patients. In this regard, the Thane Municipal Corporation officers should immediately take action, failing which the matter will be taken to the Court, warned Arogya Sahayya Samiti of Hindu Janajagruti Samiti through a complaint to the administration of the Thane Municipal Corporation.

Dr. (Mrs.) Swati Pendbhaje of Arogya Sahayya Samiti, from Thane District has lodged a complaint in this context with the Commissioner of Thane Municipal Corporation. The complaint further states that an act of charging excess bills than normal charges is not only the infringement of COVID- 19 rules but breaking the trust of the patients and looting them. How come the officers neglected this aspect ? The officers were expected to lodge the Police complaint against the owners, managers, trustees of the Trust and employees of the hospitals, or forward the complaints from victimised patients in this regard to the Police department. However, nothing of the kind has taken place.

This goes to show that these hospitals have deceived the patients to the tune of crores of rupees, and the nominal fine was imposed to make a show of doing some sort of justice. It also saved the hospital administration from going into prison. An inquiry should also be held as to why the Thane Municipal Corporation officers did not feel like conducting an investigation in this criminal act.

If the Thane Municipal Corporation officers are found guilty, an inquiry into their properties, bank accounts, residences should also be conducted. Similarly, the Thane Municipal Corporation administration should move for lodging a complaint against hospitals with the Police for deceiving the innocent patients during treatment for coronavirus. If the Thane Municipal Corporation administration overlooks the aspect, we will be constrained to file public interest litigation in the court for which the Commissioner of Thane Municipal Corporation will be personally held responsible, states the complaint.