Govt to fix private hospital charges according to their categories

Health Minister Zahid Maleque on Sunday announced preparing a guideline to fix various service charges of private hospitals, clinics, and diagnostic centres in the country as per their category.

"Different charges and test fees of private hospitals, clinics, and diagnostic centres in the country have become a cause of suffering for common people," said the minister, adding "For this reason, a guideline will be prepared by the government for the private healthcare institutions and the category will be fixed as per the standards of the hospitals and the fees will be determined accordingly."

"We will form a committee regarding this and reach a decision within a month. It will improve the quality of private healthcare and help the country's people from spending unnecessary money here and there," the minister said at a media briefing on "Nipah virus outbreak, hospital categorisation, private hospital fee determination and other issues related to health care" at the health ministry's conference room.

Regarding the process of categorisation of private hospitals, Zahid Maleque said private healthcare facilities will be divided into A, B, C, D categories based on their number of beds, equipment, location, manpower, and facilities. 

The fees will be fixed by the government based on the standard and mentioning the facilities available in those A, B, C and D category hospitals and how much the treatment cost will be.

"Not all the hospitals will be the same. The rate will be a little higher for the big hospitals with bigger investments, and quality services. Again, the hospital which would be of a bit lower quality, the fees will be less," said the minister.

The minister also said that the institutional practice will start from March. The government revenue will increase if institutional practice is introduced in public hospitals. Because a doctor does not charge fees when he consults a patient in the morning, but the patients will have to pay some charges in the afternoon, a portion of which will go to the government exchequer.

The minister said that eight patients infected with Nipah virus were detected in different parts of the country during this winter season and five of them died.

The minister said that most of the infected and dead are from Rajshahi division. All the patients infected with Nipah virus are being treated at Mohakhali Infectious Diseases Hospital. A separate ICU unit has been opened in this hospital, he added.

Zahid Maleque also said that the number of infected people in this winter season has slightly increased this year compared to last year.

"We are trying to prevent the rise of this viral disease. To create awareness among people, public notices on Nipah virus are being broadcast on television and published in the newspapers," he said.

The minister added: "There is no vaccine, no specific treatment for Nipah virus. So, we have to be aware. Raw date juice, fruits eaten by birds should not be consumed".