One of the famous chain of hospitals in Bangalore, Apollo Hospitals in Sheshadripuram have been charged by the National Health Mission in Karnataka where they have allegedly charged extra for COVID-19 test and it violates ICMR guidelines and government orders.

According to the complaint received, Apollo Hospitals were charging Rs 6000 where the test charge was Rs 4500 and Rs 1500 was for handling charge. This clearly violates the rule of ICMR and Union health ministry order and circular issued where the maximum price was capped at Rs 4,500.

Malini Aisola, co-convener of All India Drug Action Network tweeted the photo of an overpriced bill dated June 25 which shows the bill with test charge and handling charges.

The director of the National Health Mission in Karnataka sent a notice to the hospital for violating guidelines and sought out an explanation for the same. “If no reply is received, action will be initiated as per the rules,” the notice said.

On the other hand,

Uday Davda, the unit head of Apollo Hospitals, Seshadripuram said that their hospital does not conduct the COVID-19 test as they outsource to Cancyte Laboratory. Speaking to reporters Davda said “We outsource our samples to Cancyte laboratory, who are charging us Rs 4,500. They’re not providing us facility for transportation of samples and covering our cost of PPE, which we have charged the patient as handling charges.”

The health department has asked them not to charge and the hospital will now bear the charges of transportation, Davda said.

“I have asked our billing team to cull out the data of all the patients, who have undergone Covid testing, and have asked to refund the patients. I have also spoken to the family of the patient whose bill this was. Henceforth, we will bear the handling charges”. Davda said.

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