Daily Times

LAHORE: The Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Mian Saqib Nisar directed on Sunday the private hospitals not to charge patients more than the rate set by Pakistan Medical and Dental Council for treatment.

CJP was presiding over a hearing session of a case pertaining to the exorbitant fees of private hospitals. Justice Nisar directed the Center Chief Executive Officer (CEO, Ghazanfar Ali Shah, of Doctors Hospital to close his medical facility if he could not serve the public.

Previously, CJP had summoned the owner of private hospitals in relation to the high rates for medical treatment.

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CJP observed that despite the court’s orders to charge within the limits, the owners of private hospitals are charging more than Rs100,000.

Justice Nisar questioned the Doctors hospital CEO that how could they overruled the court’s orders and charge extra fees.

The apex court then told the CEO that they received complains from the patients that they were charged exorbitant fees at Doctors hospital.

Justice Nisar further said, “A patient who was admitted to the hospital for 30 days was handed a bill of Rs4 million.”

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He stressed that while charging high rates for medical treatment, private hospitals should think about people with low-income.

CJP then apprised that the court will announce a verdict if private hospitals would not review their rates.

The director general of Lahore Development Authority, complained against Doctors hospital saying the hospital was established on a residential plot.