Mohali hospital issued 3 bills for same treatment, 70-year-old wins Rs 20,000

A 70-year-old patient in Mohali won Rs 20,000 compensation from a private hospital after the Punjab consumer commission found the facility deficient in service for issuing three bills for the same treatment period. The complainant, who underwent spinal surgery for low back pain, was admitted on December 16, 2021, and discharged on December 22, 2021.

However, the hospital issued bills totaling Rs 8.47 lakh, Rs 5.91 lakh, and Rs 4.75 lakh during this time. The commission also noted that the patient was kept in the hospital on December 23 and 24 without treatment or medication after being discharged. The hospital claimed to have provided proper treatment and reduced the final bill to Rs 4.75 lakh considering the patient's financial situation.

Furthermore, the patient and his family members allegedly fled the hospital without settling the outstanding dues. The commission ruled that inconsistent billing for the same treatment period amounts to an unfair trade practice and held the hospital negligent for allowing the patient to leave without proper care.