Patient's father kills self after nursing home overcharges; owners detained

Police have detained four persons including three owners of a private nursing home in Burdwan for questioning after it had allegedly overcharged a patient whose father committed suicide for his failure to pay the bill.

Chief Medical Officer of Health in the district said that they have carried out an investigation in this regard and will submit a report to the Swasthya Bhavan. The Chief Medical Officer said that the nursing home was asked to stop its functioning after infrastructural lapses were found. They later rectified the loopholes and the permission was given three months ago to run the nursing home.

District Magistrate of Burdwan also served show-cause notice to the hospital for allegedly overcharging the patient leading to his father to commit suicide.

Police said that Chonki Lete of Katti village in Birbhum was admitted to PG Nursing Home on February 20. Chonki's father Tapan, a farmer committed suicide after he failed to pay the hospital bill of Rs 44,000.

The villagers complained with the administration about the alleged over-charging by the nursing home authorities. On the basis of specific complaints, the police detained the four persons for questioning in regard to the alleged over-charging.