JAMMU, Oct 15: It is well aware of the fact that lot of Private Hospitals & Nursing Homes are charging a lot from innocents by handing over a huge bills after their discharge.
Legal Metrology Department has taken action against a Punjab-based Jammu private Hospital chain based in Jammu at Greater Kailash.
The Hospital has been fined by LMD for conducting transactions using non-standard unit of measurement which is not in consonance with the law.
The Hospital was found guilty of violating provisions of the Legal Metrology Act, which mandates a set of accurate information, and the use of standard units of measurement in all commercial transactions, including medical devices.
The instant case came to light following a special inspection conducted by a team of Legal Metrology Department Jammu District on the directions of the Controller Legal Metrology Department J&K, Anuradha Gupta for regulating commercial transactions in the healthcare sector as well and to enforce the compliance of the Legal Metrology Act/rules to protect against fleecing of the consumer by the Hospitals, ensuring fair trade practices.
During the investigation, it was discovered that the hospital was using non-standard units of measurement in its billing for medical services and devices.
Discrepancies were particularly noted in transactions related to the quantity (in terms of weight, measure, or number) of surgical materials or dressing supplies used during the surgical procedures, and as reflected in the patient billing.
Upon registration of case for breach of relevant provisions of the Legal Metrology Act, the Hospital management pleaded guilty to the violation and opted for departmental compounding of the case by paying a fine of Rs. 20,000.
The Controller of Legal Metrology also appealed to the traders and service providers, including hospitals, to voluntarily adhere to the prescribed Legal Metrology standards while making any transactions, ensuring that patients receive fair and transparent billing.
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