Karnataka health department penalises 97 private hospitals since 2018
Fines exceeding Rs 1.66 crore were imposed for overcharging patients and denying treatment under government schemes, according to the Deccan Herald.
The Karnataka Health Department has penalised 97 private hospitals across the state since 2018 for charging patients more than the permitted rates under the Ayushman Bharat–Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana–Arogya Karnataka (AB-PMJAY-ArK) scheme. According to the Deccan Herald, these hospitals were fined a total of over Rs 1.66 crore.
The department also took action against 17 empanelled private hospitals for refusing to treat beneficiaries of the government scheme. Officials have filed 975 cases regarding violations of scheme norms, with fines ranging from Rs 4,000 to Rs 11 lakh imposed on various medical units and research centres.
Dr Yoganna S P, president of the Government Schemes Empanelled Private Hospitals’ Association, said that while hospitals cannot legally deny emergency care or demand extra payments, the government-fixed rates are too low to cover operational costs. He alleged that some hospitals exploit poor patients, while also claiming that some government doctors issue referral letters for commissions.
Some private hospitals alleged that patients occasionally file false complaints after receiving treatment without disclosing their coverage under government schemes. A hospital public relations officer claimed the government uses such complaints to avoid clearing pending bills that have been unpaid since 2022-23.
Commissioner of Health and Family Welfare Services Gurudatta Hegde rejected these allegations, stating that the Suvarna Arogya Suraksha Trust (SAST) has streamlined payments, which are cleared within two weeks unless legal issues exist. He said the department continues to receive complaints regarding excess charges and will initiate action against such hospitals.