Snehal Upadhyay –
The High Court of Kerala suspended the operation of a Government Order that gave authorization to the private hospitals to fix room rents for the treatment of patients affected by COVID-19.
Kerala Private Hospitals Association filed a review petition in order to review the directions given to the state by the High Court and complaining about private hospitals which are overcharging the patients.
According to the issued order from the state, it directed the private hospitals to fix the charges of the beds, private rooms and suits on their own, the private hospitals used this order in a very discretionary manner resulting in overcharging the patients.
The division bench consisting of Justices Devan Ramachandran and Dr Kauser Edappagath while hearing the petition observed that display of mere price would not avail to any ordinary person who approaches for COVID-19 treatment, because at that time the person would not have a choice, his life being in peril.
The directions given by the government order have been suspended until the next hearing which will be on 30th June, 2021.
“Our minds certainly travel to more aspects to say, but we choose to refrain from doing so because an opportunity must be given to the State to consider the issues in its right perspective. However, in the meanwhile, we cannot allow the Government Order dated 16.06.2021 to operate for the reasons stated above and therefore, deem it appropriate to suspend it till the next hearing date,” the Court stated.