Demonetisation effect: Patient pays hospital Rs 40,000 in coins

"We have arranged for the due amount in coins but the hospital won't accept them now as they say it is logistically impossible to count so many coins," a member of Chauli's family complained.

"They came up with bags of coins and piggy banks to complete the payment. We refused to accept that initially as it is impossible to count so many coins," a hospital employee said.

The situation got out of hand as the hospital staff and the patient party engaged in a war of words over the payment. A television journalist was reportedly beaten up by the hospital security guards and sustained a head injury.

"The television journalist was badly beaten up when he enquired about the issue," an eye witness said.

But after matters turned ugly, the hospital buckled and agreed to release the patient by accepting the coins.

The hospital management said the turn of events would be probed.

"We have accepted the coins and the patient has been discharged today. We can not comment on the altercation with the TV reporter before probing who beat up whom," Sumit Khan, the hospital vice president, told IANS.