While undergoing treatment in a private hospital, the patient and his family pay maximum attention to the doctor's fees, room rent and medicine expenses. But many small medical consumables can also add up to a large sum of money in the final hospital bill. These include IV sets, syringes, catheters and other essential items.
A recent investigation by the Maharashtra Drug and Food Administration (FDA) has raised questions about the prices of these medical consumables. The survey revealed a huge difference between the purchase price of some products and their printed MRP.
Thousands of percent difference between MRP and purchase price
According to a survey by Maharashtra FDA, a difference of up to 2,841 percent was found in the trade purchase price and MRP of medical consumables used in some hospitals.
According to FDA Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe, during the survey, the trade price of an IV infusion set was found to be around Rs 11.05, while the MRP on it was Rs 325.
Similarly, an MRP of Rs 57.20 was recorded on a syringe purchased for approximately Rs 6.75 and an MRP of Rs 310 was recorded on a catheter purchased for approximately Rs 29.41.
How can expenses increase in hospital bills?
The use of several medical consumables is part of the normal procedure during treatment. Items such as IV sets, syringes, catheters and nebulizers are provided to the patient and their cost is later included in the bill.
The problem is that the patient's family usually does not know the price at which the hospital purchased the items. In the bill they see the number of items used and the charges, but the difference between the purchase price and MRP is not clear.
In the Maharashtra FDA survey, this difference in the case of some products has been reported to be from 150 percent to more than 2,800 percent.
FDA raised questions on price difference
FDA officials have raised questions regarding the difference that if the purchase price of a medical consumable is very low and the MRP is several times higher, then on what basis the amount to be recovered from the patient is decided.
The FDA has placed the information related to the matter before the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) and has demanded an investigation into such differences in prices. It has also come to light that the Central Government has sought a report on this matter from NPPA.
How to check patient hospital bill?
When admitted to hospital, the patient or his family can understand the bill better by keeping a few things in mind.
First ask for an itemized bill. It should contain information about the name, number and duty imposed on each consumable used.
After this, the MRP and other details recorded on the packet of the used goods can be seen. If the charges for any item seem unusually high, ask the hospital's billing department for information.
Regarding the use of any expensive medical consumable, the reason for the same can be asked from the doctor or hospital. With this, the patient's family can get better information about the expenses incurred during treatment.
It is important to keep an eye on small expenses even in big hospital bills.
The final hospital bill does not consist only of the room and medicines. Many small medical items are also included in it. Therefore, it is useful to read the entire bill carefully before discharge and seek information from the hospital about any unclear charges.
Following the investigation by Maharashtra FDA, further action at the regulatory level will be monitored regarding the difference between the price of medical consumables and the fees charged by hospitals from patients.
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