"If Kanji is charged Rs 1300, we may find it difficult to swallow"

By Advocate U.Jayakrishnan

Justice Ramachandran remarked "If Kanji is charged Rs 1300, we may find it difficult to swallow" when a report of the District Medical Officer was submitted in Court on Monday.

While giving strong warning to the hospitals without mentioning their names the Bench consisted of Justice Devan Ramachandran and Justice Dr Kauser Edappagath, considered the new order published by the govt of kerala which enforced provisions of the newly enacted Kerala Clinical Establishments Act, 2018 & its Rules, and opined that Section 39 and Rule 19 required hospitals to publish the rates of COVID treatment.

The Government of Kerala vide its Order G.O.(Rt)No.1066/2021/H&FWD HEALTH &FAMILY WELFARE(F) DEPARTMENT Dated,10/05/2021 the tariif for various treatment for patients under the Karunya Scheme (KASP) and government-sponsored patients was set by the government in private hospitals.

The following directions were given by the Hon'ble court to the Hospitals after considering the government order:

1. All hospitals who were admitting patients after the publication of the Government Order would be bound by the Government Order.

2. All private hospitals in the State of Kerala, with respect to the 50% hospital beds reserved for Covid 19 patients would be bound to offer treatment to such patients strictly as per the rates published in the Government Order.

3. No private hospital shall be entitled to charge for drugs/PPE kits/essentials/oximeters etc. more than the pro-ratacost price. Actual rates on PPE kits etc. could be charged on a pro rata sharing basis by all patients inward depending on actual use.