Demonatisation move: Patients face problems at private hospitals

New Delhi: Chaos was witnessed at various hospitals in the national capital as patients and their family members faced inconvenience in buying medicines, food and availing transportation after Rs 500 and Rs 1000 currency notes lost their legitimacy overnight. Though the government-run hospitals and their medicine shops were accepting currency notes of all denominations, but patients and their family members seeking treatment at private hospitals had a harried time in paying bills and purchasing medicines. Private hospitals allegedly refused to accept Rs 500 and Rs 1000 currency notes and instead asked people to make the payment through credit or debit card or internet banking.

Many patients returned without availing of the services in Outpatient department and emergency ward. Though government hospitals have permission to accept Rs 500 and Rs 1000 currency notes till midnight of November 11, the order doesn’t apply on private ones. Patients had to face inconvenience at local pathological laboratories who also refused to accept Rs 500 and Rs 1000 denomination currency notes. “I went for an ultrasound at nearby laboratory but could not get it done as I was not having notes of lower denomination,” said Lakshmi, a resident of Mayur Vihar.