Complaints against private hospitals for dengue treatment

‘Some unnecessarily asking attendants to arrange for donor platelet, charging excessive money’

Complaints against private hospitals managements in the State have resurfaced. A few months ago, grievances were about overcharging COVID-19 patients. This time round, they are related to treatment for dengue and other viral fevers. Director of Public Health G. Srinivasa Rao said some private hospitals are asking attendants of patients to arrange for donor platelets when the platelet count is below one lakh, and charging thousands of rupees. “People have to understand that platelets have to be transfused when the count drops to less than 10,000. A patient can be managed and will recover without platelet transfusion when the count is around 10,000-20,000,” the senior health officer said while addressing a press conference held at the State Health Campus, Koti, on Monday. Asked what action was taken against such hospitals, Dr Srinivasa Rao said that changes in the hospitals’ practices cannot be brought about by shutting the hospitals or by taking punitive action.