A consumer commission in Punjab has ordered a hospital in Mohali to pay ₹20,000 in compensation to a 70-year-old male patient from Punjab after finding deficiencies in its billing practices and handling of his departure following spinal surgery. The dispute dates back to December 2021, when the patient sought treatment for low back pain and was advised to undergo spinal surgery. According to his complaint, he had informed the hospital about his ₹5 lakh insurance coverage before admission. The estimated cost of hospitalization and surgery was ₹3.9 lakh to ₹4 lakh, with his personal contribution expected to be ₹4,500.

The insurer reportedly transferred ₹2 lakh to the hospital against the initial estimate. The patient was admitted on December 16 and discharged on December 22, 2021. However, the billing subsequently became the central point of contention. The complaint alleged that the…