No free treatment for COVID patients in AP private hospitals, viral claim is fake

Carrying the image of Jagan, the message reads, `free treatment for COVID'.

It claims that the AP government will provide free treatment for COVID 19, be it at a .

NewsMeter found that the claim is fake. The AP government has made no announcement of providing free treatment for COVID in private hospitals. However the treatment is free of cost in all government hospitals.

FACT CHECK:

The AP government has not made any announcement of providing free treatment. However, it has fixed prices for the treatment of COVID 19 patients in private hospitals.

For non-critical COVID 19 treatment, Rs 4,000 will be charged in National Accreditation Board for Hospitals and Healthcare Providers (NABH) hospitals and Rs 3,000 at non-NABH hospitals. For non-critical treatment with oxygen, Rs 6,500 will be charged at NABH hospitals and Rs 5,850 at non-NABH hospitals.

For critical COVID treatment with ICU and NIV, Rs 12, 000 will be charged at NABH hospitals and 10,800 at non-NABH hospitals. For critical treatment with ICU and invasive ventilator Rs, 1,6000 will be charged at NABH hospitals and Rs 14, 400 at non-NABH hospitals. (To read more about the charges and what it includes read here)

https://newsmeter.in/regional/andhra-pradesh/ap-government-caps-prices-for-COVID-treatment-at-private-hospitals-677649

The CM directed officials to fix prices on the treatment so that no hospital could overcharge the patients. He said that fees and charges for treatment should be displayed at hospitals along with the details for complaints in case of extra charges. The CM also said that strict action would be taken if any hospital charges more than the fixed fee.