The Govt ought to be transparent on the criteria adopted for capping of rates of private hospitals for treatment of Covid related cases as the slabs fixed for general ward and ICU appears to be exorbitantly high and beyond the reach of the common man who have been suffering from the pangs of economic slowdown ever since the lockdown was enforced in March 2020.
While the MLAs and bureaucrats are given state-of-the-art treatment in private hospitals by even summoning specialists from the premiere medical college and hospital, the All India Institute of Medical Science (AIIMS), at taxpayers' expense, the locals are meted out step-motherly treatment. Now with most of the government residencies and both private and Govt-run hospitals converted into Covid Care Centres, the medical treatment for the novel corona pandemic has become a lucrative business given the steep rise in the cost of treatment of the deadly virus resulting in the proliferation of Covid Care Centres and hospitals to make hay while the pandemic sun shines.
Under the circumstances, there ought to be a level playing field for all and sundry in so far as holistic medical treatment is concerned across the gamut of ailments without discrimination.
Hippocrates may be turning in his grave with the tempering of his medical oath for profit by the political class.
EVERETTE ASSIS TELLES, Comba-Margao
