2 diagnostic centres fined for charging extra fees

The Directorate of National Consumer Right Protection (DNCRP) today fined two diagnostic centres in Dhaka for charging extra fees for the medical tests to diagnose dengue, violating the rate fixed by the government.

A team of the DNCRP launched a drive at Ibn Sina Diagnostic Centre and Popular Diagnostic Centre in Dhanmondi and fined them Tk 50,000 each, said DNCRP Deputy Director (Dhaka division) Manjur Mohammad Shahriar, who led the team.  

“The two diagnostic centers were charging double fee than the rate fixed by the government and were giving discount on it. It was one kind of cheating. So, they were fined Tk 50,000 each,” Shahriar told The Daily Star over phone.

As the dengue situation worsened this month and took an alarming turn over the last week, public hospitals had to accommodate patients beyond their capacities and to the point that there was no space left even on the floors and corridors.

Against this backdrop, many patients went to private hospitals though it involved higher costs of diagnosis and treatment.

Given the situation, the government yesterday fixed the rate for tests, which are required prior and during the treatment of dengue patients, at the private hospitals, clinics and diagnostic centres across the country in an attempt to ease the cost of dengue treatment.

According to the decision, the maximum fee for NS1 Antigen test, which is conducted to diagnose dengue within three days of fever, was set at maximum Tk 500.

Two other tests -- IgG and IgM -- that are conducted to diagnose dengue at a later stage, also should not cost more than Tk 500.

The cost of complete blood count (CBC) test was fixed at maximum Tk 400.