High-Level Committee to Scrutinise Private Hospital Bill After 33-Day Treatment Sparks Controversy
Kolkata | In a major development, the West Bengal Clinical Establishment Regulatory Commission (WBCERC) has directed the Directorate of Health Services (DHS) to form a high-level committee to examine a controversial hospital bill of ₹26.64 lakh, calling the charges “unethically high.”
The case revolves around a private healthcare facility, ILS Hospital, where a 50-year-old woman from Konnagar was admitted in critical condition on December 14. She remained hospitalised for 33 days before passing away, after which the hospital issued a bill exceeding ₹26 lakh.
Commission Flags Excessive Daily Charges and Medical Costs
According to WBCERC chairman Justice Asim Kumar Banerjee, the hospital charged nearly ₹80,000 per day despite no major surgical intervention. He noted that doctor consultation fees alone amounted to ₹2.41 lakh, while medicines and consumables crossed ₹11 lakh.
The commission observed that diagnostic tests and other charges were also disproportionately high, raising serious concerns about billing practices in private healthcare institutions.
Hospital Asked to Deposit Full Amount Pending Final Verdict
Following preliminary findings, WBCERC has instructed the hospital to deposit the entire billed amount with the commission until a final decision is reached. This move aims to ensure accountability and prevent financial burden on the patient’s family during the investigation.
Discount Suggestion Ignored, Refund Deemed Insufficient
Earlier, the commission had advised the hospital to revise the bill by capping daily charges at ₹50,000. However, the hospital refunded only ₹39,000 to the family—an amount the commission termed inadequate and unacceptable.
Family Satisfied with Treatment, Not the Billing
Interestingly, while the patient’s family expressed satisfaction with the treatment provided, they approached the commission solely over the excessive billing, highlighting growing concerns about transparency and affordability in private healthcare.
Rising Scrutiny on Private Healthcare Billing Practices
This case adds to increasing regulatory scrutiny in West Bengal over alleged overcharging by private hospitals. The outcome of the probe could set a significant precedent for billing standards and patient rights across the state’s healthcare sector.
