Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Mian Saqib Nisar remarked on Sunday that private hospitals should not charge patients more than the rate set by Pakistan Medical and Dental Council for treatment,
While hearing a case against private hospital owners for charging excessive fees from patients the chief justice told Doctors Hospital and Medical Center Chief Executive Officer Ghazanfar Ali Shah to shut down his medical facility if his aim is not to serve the public.
Doctors hospital a privately owned hospital whose CEO appeared in court as the chief justice on Saturday issued summons earlier for owners of private hospitals.
The chief justice observed that owners of private hospitals bills patients with over Rs100,000 to implant stents despite orders of charging within the limit.
CJP asked the CEO of Doctors hospital, how they could overrule court orders and charge extra fees?
We have received complaints from people that they were charged exorbitant fees at Doctors hospital, Justice Nisar said. A patient who was admitted at the hospital for 30 days is handed a bill of Rs4 million, he further added.
The court will announce a verdict if private hospitals do not review their rates, the chief justice observed.
According to the director general of Lahore Development Authority, who was also present at the court said Doctors hospital is established on a one-canal residential plot and it is being used commercially.