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Maharashtra Health Minister Rajesh Tope has said that private hospitals and diagnostic centres have taken undue advantage of the COVID-19 situation and they are overcharging patients even for basic health services.
Speaking at an event organized by the Western Region of industry body CII on Tuesday, Tope said, there have been instances of these private facilities charging hefty sums from people for medical services.
The Minister said, the State Government has taken various measures to cap prices of health care services so that people can afford them.
Mr Tope admitted that plasma therapy has not been much successful in treating COVID-19 patients.
He said, even though plasma therapy has not been very successful still an amount of Rs. 10,000 to Rs.12,000 is being charged for the same.
That is why, a cap of Rs. 5,500 has been put in place for the treatment.
He said that charges on testing have also been capped but the volume is so huge that hospitals and laboratories can still make money by testing more and more people.
Mr Tope also said that the COVID-19 pandemic and the subsequent lockdown caused job losses and affected mental health of people and how to address mental health issues is another challenge.
