Private hospitals in Maharashtra have recently been asked to accommodate the maximum number of COVID-19 patients, with 80% of the operational bed capacity as per regulated rates sanctioned by the state government 1 . Furthermore, given the recent reports of private hospitals charging exorbitantly high for the treatment for COVID-19 patients, the Supreme Court has directed the Centre to identify private hospitals across the country for the treatment of such patients either for free or at a minimum cost 2 . The new guideline was issued on May 21st, describing that 80% of beds in both isolation and non-isolation wards in the private hospitals will be regulated by the state government, while the remaining 20% can be charged by private hospitals as per their rates.
There will be no difference in the quality of treatment between the patients admitted in this 20% and 80% categories. Three rate…
