Family alleges Green Heals of wrongdoing, "Kits are supplied by government, process is transparent," hospital

A video has gone viral on Social Media which alleges Green Heals Hospital of wrongdoing. The video features reports of two COVID tests of the same individual, one done at Green Heals and another one at Silchar Medical College and Hospital. A commentator in the video is heard saying that they consulted doctor Amit Kalwar when the patient was feeling unwell and the doctor suggested them to visit Green Heals Hospital if they want to undergo treatment at a private Hospital. The doctor, as per protocol asked the patient to test for COVID19.

The patient Rajen Hazam is a resident of Hailakandi’s Gharmura area. He got his blood samples tested in Katlicherra where the doctors said he is suffering from Typhoid. “We went to Green Heals hospital as we wanted to be under the supervision of Dr. Amit Kalwar,” informed the patient’s relative on the video. When tested at Green Heals Hospital, the patient tested positive for COVID19.

“I could see with my eye how they were meddling with the kits. That is when I started doubting the authenticity of the test. However, they said they are sure and we can take admission to the COVID ward at Green Heals where they will charge around Rs 10,000 initially and then it will drop gradually depending on the treatment. Because I had my doubts, we went to SMCH and the COVID test was negative,” said the person who claims to be Rajen Hazam’s friend.

Moreover, Rajen Hazam said he had tested positive for COVID19 earlier this month and was discharged after treatment on October 9 from the COVID Care Centre in Katlicherra. “This is Green Heals Hospital openly looting people in the name of COVID treatment. We have complained the same to Dr. Amit Kalwar too,” said Rajen Hazam.

Dr. Amit Kalwar, however, feels it is premature to blame the Hospital. “First of all, I gave two options to the patient. I told them they can go to SMCH or Green Heals Hospital. Secondly, RAT is not conclusive and there is very little that the Hospital can do if two tests in two hospitals showed different results,” said doctor, Kalwar.

As far as the costing is concerned, the Hospital Management said that they always share the estimate keeping everything into consideration. “The billing process is transparent, the medicines that are subsidised in Silchar Medical College and Hospital we have to charge for them at private hospitals. That is why the cost of treatment varies from patient to patient,” said Rudra Narayan Gupta, director of Green Heals Hospital.

He added, “The tests are done using the kits supplied by the Government of Assam and the tests are performed in front of the patients. We have seen in the past too that RAT results vary and that is why we always recommend RT-PCR. Also, the treatment we do in the hospital is done on the basis of many other tests like X-Ray, CT Scans and not the RAT only.”