A West Bengal consumer court has held a private hospital accountable for allegedly charging a patient for intensive care despite records showing that he was treated in a general ward. The State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission, West Bengal, also found deficiency of service over the alleged denial of benefits under the Swasthya Sathi scheme and ordered the hospital to pay a total of Rs 2.75 lakh. Main case and outcome The case dates back to 2021, when the patient was admitted to the private hospital after testing positive for COVID-19.

He had fever and pneumonia and was discharged after a 5 to 6 day stay with advice for 10 days of home isolation and medication for post-COVID care. The final bill, however, included a Rs 2 lakh charge against the bed or room entry "ICCU-2-44." The patient subsequently approached the consumer forum, alleging that he had actually occupied a standard…