Continental hospital waived off Rs 6.4 lakh bill, hands over COVID body

Hyderabad: A day after the wife of a COVID-19 victim filed a writ petition in the Telangana High Court against Continental Hospital, Nanakramguda, for holding back her husband's body. The private hospital waived off Rs. 6,41,175.63 pending bill and handed over the body to the family on 24th July.

The victim's brother, Venkatswami Kondapuram, told Newsmeter, “The hospital staff called me on Friday and handed over the body. The management initially asked the family to pay Rs 1 lakh however on hearing our problems, they waived off the bill of Rs 6.4 lakh".

Kondapuram Mohan Babu was admitted to Continental Hospitals on 17 July with high fever and respiratory problems. The later's samples turned out to be COVID positive. Since then, the doctors had been treating him for the coronavirus. On 22 July, the man died of the virus, however the family could not clear the pending bill of Rs 6.41 lakh

“I am a daily labourer and my husband worked as a watchman at the Laxmikala Seshikala Theatre in Mossapeta, Hyderabad. My husband had no job after movie theatres shut down following the COVID pandemic. With no income, we were unable to make ends meet,” said Lavanya.

She had borrowed Rs. 2,50,000 from a family member to pay the hospital bill for which the hospital had issued a receipt. But on 22 July, they told Lavanya that the total bill amounted to Rs. 8,91,175.63. The victim's family alleged that after deducting the advance of Rs. 2,50,000, the hospital authorities were demanding Lavanya pay the balance Rs. 6,41,175.63 and then take her husband's body.