Kolkata Hospital Directed to Refund Unethical Charges to Patients
The West Bengal Clinical Establishment Regulatory Commission has taken strong action against a private hospital in Kolkata, ordering it to refund charges collected for laundry services and biomedical waste disposal from patients. The landmark decision came on Wednesday after a detailed hearing of a patient's complaint.
Justice (Retd) Ashim Kumar Banerjee, chairperson of WBCERC, declared these charges as unethical and unacceptable. "When a hospital operates using a clinical establishment licence, the onus of keeping the hospital clean, linens washed and biomedical waste disposed is on it. Patients cannot be charged for those," he stated emphatically.
Complaint That Triggered the Action
The case came to light through a complaint filed by Arvind Kejriwal, whose 87-year-old mother was admitted to Fortis Hospital on EM Bypass. Kejriwal alleged that the hospital delayed his mother's admission by three hours because he could only arrange ₹30,000 against the demanded ₹50,000 deposit.
During the proceedings, the commission discovered that the hospital had charged the patient for laundry services and biomedical waste disposal - expenses that should inherently be part of hospital operational costs. The panel also found that the patient was not given the mandatory discount on consumables and medicines.
The commission ordered Fortis Hospital to refund ₹17,485 to Kejriwal, covering the inappropriate charges for biomedical waste disposal and laundry services.
Wider Implications for All Patients
In a significant move with broader implications, the regulatory commission didn't stop with just one case. The hospital has been directed to delete these two charge heads from their billing software within 24 hours and inform the commission about the compliance.
More importantly, the hospital must refund all patients who were charged for laundry and biomedical waste disposal over the past year. This decision could affect numerous patients and set a precedent for other healthcare institutions in West Bengal.
A statement from Fortis Hospital, Anandapur responded cautiously: "We have noted the panel's observations but no formal directive has been received. Once the order is issued, we will review it and take appropriate steps."
Similar Action Against Another Hospital
The commission's scrutiny extended to another medical facility identified as INK, where Kejriwal's mother was subsequently treated for about a month before she passed away. INK has been ordered to refund ₹33,649 for failing to provide the required discount on consumables and medicines.
Other hospitals in Kolkata reacted to the development, noting that services like laundry, biomedical waste disposal, and food have traditionally been included in package deals and are part of central policies in some hospital chains.
This ruling by the West Bengal Clinical Establishment Regulatory Commission marks a significant step toward protecting patient rights and ensuring transparency in hospital billing practices across Kolkata's healthcare sector.
