Situation in Kerala very serious; cost of treatment is ten times higher than severity of disease, says HC

KOCHI: The situation of the state due to transmission of Covid is very serious, said the Kerala High Court. The court directed the government to consult with hospitals on what more can be done to reduce the rates in private hospitals treating Covid patients, and then inform them. The government told the court that an order had been issued last year regarding the rates. The government said they will consider reducing the treatment expenses again.

The court observed that the cost of treatment charged by private hospitals from covid patients is ten times higher than the severity of the disease. The court criticized while considering the public interest litigation asserting that many private hospitals were charging exorbitant rates for the treatment.

The plea was considered by a bench led by Justice Devan Ramachandran and Justice M R Anitha. The court said their observation is based on direct and reliable information from those who incurred financial liability under Covid treatment.