Eight-year-old Adya Singh was admitted to a Gurgaon Hospital on August 31 with a high fever. 15 days later, she succumbed to dengue and Adya’s father was presented with a bill of Rs 15 lakh.
The issue came to light after a friend of the girl's father had tweeted about the incident. The media coverage of the incident triggered public outrage against the hospital and sparked a debate about stricter regulations in private medical healthcare.
In the following days, media reports quoted the girl’s father alleging the entire hospital episode to be “hellish to begin with”.
He said that the doctors prescribed expensive branded medicines after initially suggesting cheaper generic medicines. He also said that doctors were not attending Adya during weekends. However, in a media statement, the hospital denied any wrongdoing.
Following the uproar, Union Health Minister JP Nadda promised to take action and sought a report from the hospital. The Haryana government subsequently launched an investigation against the Fortis Memorial Research Institute (FMRI).
On Friday, the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority also sent a notice to the FMRI seeking copies of the bills.
Well-known bureaucrat and Principal Secretary for Youth and Sports Affair in the BJP-led Haryana government Ashok Khemka tweeted on November 23 suggesting that heavy financial penalties may deter alleged “exploitation” by some private medical establishments.
“Use of sophisticated language cannot justify the exploitation of public misery by some private hospitals in the name of medical treatment. Big financial penalties imposed on hospital promoters and doctors may help curb the malpractices,” the IAS officer tweeted.
Khemka’s tweet which was welcomed by many with more than 2400 retweets and 4,400 likes, also snowballed into a twitter war, with some alleging that the IAS officer was ‘biased’ against private establishments.
Use of sophisticated language cannot justify the exploitation of public misery by some private hospitals in the name of medical treatment. Big financial penalties imposed on hospital promoters and doctors may help curb the malpractices.
— Ashok Khemka (@AshokKhemka_IAS) November 23, 2017
Those opposed to his views include eminent personalities like Padma Shri and former Infosys CFO TV Mohandas Pai and Chairman and MD of Biocon, Kiran Mazumdar Shaw.
Kiran Mazumdar Shaw owns stake in cancer treatment facility, Mazumdar Shaw Cancer Centre run by Narayana Hrudayalaya. Eminent cardiologist Dr. Devi Prasad Shetty is the chairman of Narayana Hrudayalaya. Mohandas Pai meanwhile is a board member of Manipal Hospitals.
Pai argued that although the amount may look big, the cost of ICU treatment for that many days is not necessarily excessive. He also questioned why Khemka was passing comments without being a specialist or having sufficient data.
Without knowing details why are you passing judgement and making comments? Excessive?do you know full details?com?well known?general remarks without soe icici data.AIIMS should do full cost analysis.AIIMS full costs will be high https://t.co/sdLHClHY90
— Mohandas Pai (@TVMohandasPai) November 24, 2017
In a series of tweets, Pai accused Khemka to be “biased and “feudal”.
Why are you pre judging, wait for the inquiry report!if they are wrong they should be punished! Abusing doctors,hospitals, badmouthing based on one event show a feudal mindset. https://t.co/fKA3NaGJm1
— Mohandas Pai (@TVMohandasPai) November 25, 2017
“Extortion” shows you have prejudged again!this is the issue, this mindset of entitlement and feudalism that you are always right, you are next to God, all others are bad!pl look in the mirror for the source of India’s challenges https://t.co/SWqYuzEWVA
— Mohandas Pai (@TVMohandasPai) November 25, 2017
Nope no interest, do not know them,but dislike people like you passing judgement without data!shows prejudging and prejudice!yes not small amount but ICU is very expensive so is 24x7 intensive https://t.co/U0ay7t9ujJ are not a doctor https://t.co/AZUh1vNlMA
— Mohandas Pai (@TVMohandasPai) November 24, 2017
Replying to Khemka’s tweet, Shaw suggested that the bureaucrat begin by using government hospitals before talking about malpractices in private medical care.
Use of sophisticated language cannot justify the exploitation of public misery by some private hospitals in the name of medical treatment. Big financial penalties imposed on hospital promoters and doctors may help curb the malpractices.
— Ashok Khemka (@AshokKhemka_IAS) November 23, 2017
Khemka, however, was quick to shoot back.
My family and I use Govt hospitals only, even though private hospital care is allowed. Fortis, Medanta, Apollo are approved hospitals.
— Ashok Khemka (@AshokKhemka_IAS) November 24, 2017
I speak and write against malpractices within the government.
The heated conversation went on with defenders of private investment speaking in favour of private medical care establishments. They also justified the high costs as it is not subsidised.
Shaw argued that individual healthcare is always costly and can only be rationalised through universal health insurance.She also acknowledged wrongdoing by some private institutions but argued that Khemka should not generalise.
I am not defending wrong doings by Pvt hospitals which need punitive measures but not everything can be reduced
— Kiran Mazumdar Shaw (@kiranshaw) November 24, 2017
Meanwhile, Khemka in subsequent tweets argued that the bill prima facie looks inflated and an inquiry will reveal the truth. He also called for Fortis to explain the bill in public domain.