Several private hospitals have been accused of exploiting their COVID-19 patients financially. This must be seen as a pandemic of day-light robbery.

Two recent examples capture the extremity of the problem. A private hospital in Hyderabad has billed a Mancherial family something like Rs 80 lakh for the treatment of a 70-year-old man and his two sons. The three had developed critical complications due to COVID-19. Unfortunately, the doctors couldn't save the patients.

In another example, Yashodha Hospital in Secunderabad has charged Belide Srinivas, a photo-journalist from Warangal, nearly Rs 29 lakh for treating COVID-19. The family of the middle-class man paid Rs 12 lakh. Another Rs 5 lakh was paid by the insurance company. They are cash-strapped to pay more.

Despite the government fixing rates for coronavirus treatment, the loot by hospitals continues!

Yashoda hospital in Secunderabad charged 28.99 lakh from Covid19 patient.He is a photojournalist frm Warangal.@Eatala_Rajender @EATALAOffice @KTRTRS @TelanganaCMO @Collector_WGLR @HiWarangal @PMOIndia @SmitaSabharwal pic.twitter.com/RbnjKudGTk

— R V K Rao (@RVKRao2) September 12, 2020