The West Bengal Clinical Establishment Regulatory Commission on Friday asked two healthcare institutes to refund the extra amount they had charged for Covid-19 tests.

“We have told them that the amount charged for the Covid test in excess of what the government has fixed has to be returned,” said retired judge Ashim Banerjee, the chairperson of the commission.

The two establishments are BMRI and SRL.

BMRI had overcharged Rs 3,600 for the reports of three RT-PCR tests for Covid and SRL had overcharged Rs 700 for two reports, said Banerjee. The tests were conducted in November and December.

The state government has capped the rate of an RT-PCR test for Covid at Rs 950. Despite the government-imposed cap, there have been instances of private hospitals and diagnostic centres charging more for an RT-PCR test.

Overbilling

The commission asked Divine Nursing Home to return Rs 35,805 to a patient who was overcharged.

“The hospital had billed Rs 6,500 as bed charge. We had said bed charges could not be enhanced. Despite that they charged more than the original rate, which was Rs 4,000. There was also some overbilling in pathological tests. So, we have asked the nursing home to refund Rs 35,805," said Banerjee.

Refund

Apollo Gleneagles Hospitals has been asked to refund Rs 1 lakh to the family of a cancer patient who died. The patient had tested positive for Covid during his stay in the hospital.

Banerjee said the patient was undergoing prolonged treatment at the hospital.

“Since the patient tested positive for Covid on the 21st day, the hospital has some responsibility. We have asked the hospital to refund Rs 1 lakh,” said Banerjee.

The patient’s family was billed Rs 15 lakh, of which they paid Rs 9 lakh. The rest was paid by the insurance company.