Fortis Hospital Billed A 7 YO Dengue Patient’s Parents 18 Lakh In 15 Days. She Didn’t Survive.

Medical healthcare in our country is a faulty system in many ways. From government hospitals being understaffed and overworked to private hospitals charging a lot of money for their facilities, bridging the gap between them is very tough.

However, the problem is that healthcare is one thing everyone is ready to sacrifice for. People are ready to spend all their savings on healthcare as long as they are getting a decent treatment.

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In shocking news Gurugram based Fortis Hospital charged Dwarka resident Jayant Singh over a lakh rupees per day for fifteen days when they admitted their 7-year-old daughter, Adya to the hospital for treatment of dengue.

According to a DNA report, Adya passed away on the 15th of September and the bill soared to about 18 lakhs.

The arbitrary cost of the drugs and other hospitals surpassed all their expectations. Medical consumables like 2700 gloves were billed at Rs. 17,142 and medical investigations including blood tests cost him another Rs. 2.17 lakh.

  • Admission Charge – Rs 1250
  • Blood Bank – Rs 61, 315
  • Diagnostics – Rs 29, 290
  • Doctor charges – Rs 53, 900
  • Drugs – Rs 3, 96, 732.48
  • Equipment Charge – Rs 71,000
  • Investigations – Rs 2, 17, 594
  • Medical and Surgical Procedures – Rs 2, 85, 797
  • Medical Consumables – Rs 2, 73, 394
  • Miscellaneous – Rs 15, 150
  • Room Rent – Rs 1, 74,000
  • Discount – Rs 20,000
  • Total Bill – Rs 15, 79, 322.48

Jayant spoke about two brands of medicines being pumped into Adya’s body. One was cheaper costing Rs. 500 per vial for a total of Rs. 4,491 and the other was more expensive costing Rs. 3100 for a total of Rs. 65,362. Apparently, both brands essentially did the same thing. He added,

 “Also, a blood sugar testing strip costs Rs 13, but we were charged Rs 200 per strip.”

A completely distraught Jayant said that more than the money it was about the utterly insensitive approach of the hospital staff. He had twins- Adya and Anya. Anya has been asking about her sister and his wife, Deepti had a miscarriage of her 6-week fetus. He said,

 “I am still trying to hold my family together. My wife and my twin daughter Anya are reeling under an extreme shock. And we have lost our unborn child too.”

Meanwhile, Minister of Health and Family Welfare, JP Nadda came out in support of the family.

Fortis hospital too tweeted on the thread saying that they would look into the matter conduct an investigation and get back.

They later issued a statement saying that because the patient was in ICU it requires a high number of consumables as per globally accepted protocols. Speaking of transparency in their bills, they said,

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All standard medical protocols were followed in treating the patient and all clinical guidelines were adhered to.”

 

They had refused to give Adya a death certificate. And even asked the family to arrange for another hospital’s ambulance to take her. This was because the hospital didn’t want a dengue death on their hands.

After the massive bills were cleared, Fortis hospital asked the parents to return. They then asked them to pay for the gown the child was wearing at the time of discharge as her clothes didn’t fit her.

Our condolences are with baby Adya’s family. We wish they stay strong during this turbulent time of life.

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