Hospital Prescribes 11 Vials Of Remdesivir, to face action Action under MCI norms, Epidemic Diseases Act
Noida: Finding a Prayag-based private hospital guilty of prescribing 11 vials of Remdesivir to a patient admitted during the second wave of the pandemic, a panel has directed the Chief Medical Officer (CMO) to take action under the provisions of the Epidemic Diseases Act and under the rules of the Medical Council of India (MCI) within 15 days.
The panel in question was constituted to investigate complaints against Gautam Budh Nagar private hospitals and it found that the allegations against the private hospitals for prescribing 11 vials of Remdesivir was true.
That way, the private hospital in Sector 41 had violated the protocol while administering more than six vials of the drug to a woman who later died.
However, the hospital authorities, on the other hand, have denied the allegations and they clarified that they would challenge the ruling.
Also Read:35 hospitals told to reconsider bill after overcharging found
As per the latest media report by the Hindustan Times, after the Allahabad High Court had directed the State Government on May 11 to constitute a three-member committee in each district to investigate the complaints of patients facing difficulties getting treatment for COVID-19 at private hospitals, Pandemic Public Grievance Committee (PPGC) had been set up. Until now, the Committee has heard more than 100 complaints from the public.
Regarding the matter concerning the private hospital in Sector 41, the complaint had been filed by the patient's son on July 12. It was claimed that the woman had been admitted on April 17 with a severe case of Covid-19 and she passed away on May 21.
While commenting on the matter, the president of the Committee, civil judge Sushil Kumar told HT, "As per the complainant, the hospital prescribed the patient 11 vials of Remdesivir drug. However, as per protocols set by the Director-General Medical and Health Services, Uttar Pradesh, the number of vials prescribed to a Covid patient cannot be more than six. The complainant at the time had to pay an exorbitant amount to source the vials to save his mother."
Based on the complaint by the patient's son, the committee had sent a notice to the hospital management on July 16 and sought to know its reply.
"A representative from the hospital denied the allegations and said that it did not prescribe 11 vials to the patient but an investigation into the bills charged by the hospital found that it [the allegation] was true. Hence, the CMO of the district has been instructed to take legal action under the provisions of the Epidemic Diseases Act and under the rules of medical council of India, and inform the PPGC committee within 15 days," the Judge added.
He further informed the daily that the patient was charged Rs 7 lakh and the entire amount was paid immediately.
Meanwhile, speaking to the daily, CMO Dr. Sunil Kumar Sharma said, "The district health department will inquire into the matter and take action accordingly".
Denying the allegations, an official from the hospital told the daily, "The allegations are completely baseless. The hospital never prescribed 11 vials of remdesivir to the patient. We will challenge the decision of the committee".
