The Manipur government must regulate the price and fixed the rates for COVID-19 tests, oxygen and treatment of COVID-19 patients in the state, the Manipuri Students Federation (MSF) said Sunday.
In a video release issued by the MSF on Sunday, its general secretary Hijam Roshan said the number of RTPCR machines in government hospitals should be increased so that more people can avail the opportunity to take tests.
Roshan said the number of COVID-19 tests in government hospitals as per IDSP’s report on Saturday was 3,00,490 and that of private hospitals was higher with 6,78,880 tests.
Alleging that a few private hospitals in the state are conveniently charging the price of COVID-19 tests as per their wishes, he said that private hospitals must not think of their own profits alone at such crucial times.
Roshan also said that the Andhra Pradesh government filed a case against six private hospitals in the state for overcharging/ extra charging in Covid treatment on May 7.
Prior to that, the government declared in advance that action will be taken up against those involved in over charging/ extra charging in Covid treatment on May 4, he added.
Roshan further said that government employees and even VIPS visiting private hospitals for their treatment is an indication that the government hospitals have inadequate infrastructures.
Therefore, the government should make sure that the government hospitals are equipped with necessary infrastructures, he added.
