Christian Medical College — Bill discrepancy

Address: Vellore, Tamil Nadu

This is a formal complaint regarding a hospital billing discrepancy at Christian medical College, Vellore. Tamil Nadu. (Bill no.-E920971). I am from west bengal, went there for my mother's check up, who is the patient named, Rebati Ghosh, Hospital No. 065723F. She was checked by the Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Unit 2 department, under a doctor named Minakshi Kumari. After multiple investigations the doctor suggested hysteroscopic polypectomy, thereafter the patient was admitted on 31st March in the G4W ward, the same day morning they took an advance of Rs.30, 000/- in the morning.
The same evening they asked to bring medicines of Rs.3705.47/- . Next morning, on 1st April, the operation took place, post operation, in the afternoon, they asked to bring another box of medicines of Rs.2669.40/-. Before discharge in the evening, the nurse told us to return the excess medicines that were not used in the pharmacy, and the medicines returned was of Rs. 3690/-. But the pharmacy refused to give us any refund or proof of the number of medicine that was returned, in fact nothing was given to us. Their saying is whatever medicines will be returned they will adjust with the final billing. This is a trick they are applying to all the patients so that nothing they need to refund and they can increase the final bill easily.

Then while discharged, the discharge bill was of Rs. 51, 166/-, which included the wrong charges of laparoscopy that took 2 times each 10, 000. After clarifying at the billing counter they have cut only one charge of laparoscopy of Rs.10, 000/-.
But they're still charging the other charges of laparoscopy of Rs. 10, 000/- in the new bill, the new bill total stands at Rs. 41166/-.

The patient has gone through the operation of hysteroscopic polypectomy, and no laparoscopy was done, yet they are charging 10, 000/- for laparoscopy which was not even part of the treatment nor it has been done.

After questioning, they claim that it was Hysteroscopy charges, but, Hysteroscopy charges as taken earlier by the hospital during investigation of the patient was only Rs.1470/-. Then why the charges go up to Rs.10, 000/- during the operation.

First of all, the first bill of Rs.51, 166/- was a wrong bill made by the hospital, which added charges of laparoscopy 2 times each Rs.10, 000/-
Normally, in distress a patient's family will not look at the billings and what charges they are including. But, I, being a doctor, looked over the charges and found that the hospital is cheating the patients in the name of treatment.

The pharmacy bills are never adjusted or refunded at the pharmacy rather they increase the main bill so that they need not refund anything.
Also they prescribed the same number of medicines to every patient in the ward and the rule is at the end it'll be returned at the pharmacy whatever is not used, and the bill will be adjusted at the main bill.
Again, being a private hospital, they do not keep any proof at the hand of the patient, after returning medicine they will not give any slip that you have returned this number of medicines and you will get this much money as refund . So, they can easily increase the final bill.
Before the operation the doctor gave us an estimate of Rs.30 thousand and maximum 35 thousand charges of the operation and after the operation they increased it including returned medicine charges which I paid separately before.

Even the hospital takes charges for providing us our own reports of any tests, after paying money for our own tests, the hospital refuses to give you the reports, unless you pay extra money for purchasing the reports. And the reports they are giving after payment is not seperated, it is only an treatment summary, Which should be given without any extra payment, as it is a patient's common right. These are totally against hospital ethics .
The patient's family can not even look over the reports and ask their doubts to the doctor on the second visit after the test, because they have not provided the reports.
In our case the doctor didn't tell us the whole USG report before operation. she only said your mom has one fibroid and one polyp, You should go for hysteroscopic polypectomy. Whereas after getting the discharge summary and buying the reports we came to know that she is also having one another fibroid and also adenomyosis.

They do not even release the reports even on the day you pay money for it, they will only release after all your visits to the doctor have ended. Then how a patient clarifies their doubts.

I strongly protest against the hospital rules and billing discrepancies which they are creating with every possible patient but being layman it's hard for a patient's family to understand or look at every charge they are holding.

I have included the dispute proof showing all the details of bills. Also, if any further information or evidence is required I will be providing the same.

Kindly look into the billing discrepancies of the wrong charges of laparoscopy that was not even done to the patient. I will request you to look into the issue so that I get back my refund money. . I hope to hear from you as soon as possible upon receiving this letter.

Please contact me at:- [protected]@gmail.com.