Nagpur: Acting on concerns raised by victims of the Godhani chlorine gas leak over who would bear their medical expenses, the state govt has decided to foot the entire bill, including for patients who have already been discharged after making the payment themselves.
District collector Kumar Ashirwad announced the decision at a meeting with representatives of govt and private hospitals treating victims of the August 24 chlorine leak at Maharashtra Jeevan Pradhikaran’s (MJP) water treatment plant. From 56 initially, the number of hospitalised persons had increased to 59. On Aug 26, TOI reported about uncertainty among affected families over medical expenses, particularly for patients requiring continued treatment and those who lack financial resources or family support.
Some of them have been discharged after treatment. Ramtek MP Shyamkumar Barve and MLA Sameer Meghe took cognisance of TOI reports and instructed the district administration to intervene. Former ZP vice-president and senior Congress leader Kunda Raut too took up the issue. Ashirwad directed hospitals not to collect money from patients or their relatives for medical investigations, medicines or other expenses related to the treatment.
A separate list will be prepared for discharged patients, containing the treatment period, total bill and amount paid by the patient or relatives, so that reimbursement can be processed. Hospitals have been asked to submit patient-wise details, including names, addresses, contact numbers, admission dates, diagnosis, treatment provided, investigations, medicines and the expenditure incurred or likely to be incurred. Representatives of Indira Gandhi Govt Medical College and Hospital, Max Hospital, Sparsh Hospital, Viveka Hospital, Synergy Hospital, Alright Hospital and Kingsway Hospital, among others, attended the meeting.