Apollo Hospital locks horns with WBCERC, rejects refund order
Kolkata: A recent hearing at the West Bengal Clinical Establishment Regulatory Commission (WBCERC) took an unusual turn as Apollo Multispecialty Hospital refused to abide by the order of the health panel. Challenging the order of the commission, the Apollo Multispecialty Hospital has declined to refund Rs 5800 to a patient for overcharging on consumables and medicines.
The Kolkata-based hospital has informed the Regulatory Commission that 'it is not required to comply with a directive from the health panel.'
The case involves a complaint filed with the health panel against the hospital. The complainant's relative underwent a planned surgery that was covered by insurance. The total bill amounted to Rs 3 lakh 20 thousand, with Rs 2 lakh 37 Thousand approved by the Third-Party Administrator (TPA) and the remaining paid in cash.
WBCERC chairperson Ashim Kumar Banerjee stated that the panel found the hospital did not offer discounts on consumables and certain pharmacy items as per its earlier recommendations.
According to Advisory 14, the commission previously made it mandatory to offer 20% and 10% discounts, respectively, on medicines and consumables. The commission then instructed the hospital to refund Rs 5,800 to the patient.
However, the hospital responded by citing a previous Calcutta High Court ruling that said the commission's orders were not binding.
Banerjee clarified that the High Court ruling pertained only to the fixing of rates and not to discounts. The commission has since approached the High Court's division bench, where the matter is currently pending.
Banerjee said, “We have challenged the HC ruling on the decision bench and the case is still going on. Moreover, the High Court comment was only for fixing rates and not on the discount.”
