New Delhi, Nov 7: Former Union Minister Priya ranjan Dasmunsi has been in coma for the last three years at the Indraprastha Apollo Hospital here and the government has been footing his bills till April this year.
The Indian Express on Monday reported that over Rs 50 lakhs bills are yet to be paid for the last 5-6 months because of some confusion over rules.
The report said, so far, the Lok Sabha Secretariat paid for Dasmunsi's treatment, which reportedly costs about Rs 6 lakh per month, as his wife, Deepa Dasmunsi, is an elected MP.
But in April this year, the Secretariat, in a letter to the Health Ministry, sought to know whether Deepa Dasmunsi was “entitled for full reimbursement of the medical claim”.
“It is once again requested to Ministry of Health & Family Welfare to send their views at the earliest on the following: whether the treatment (hypoxic brain injury and persistent vegetative state) being taken by P R Dasmunsi is covered under super speciality treatment,” said another letter sent by the Secretariat on June 20.
Health Ministry officials claimed to have replied 10 days back.
“Hypoxic brain injury is a diagnosis which does not come under a specific procedure under CGHS. That is why it is a tricky issue... As for reimbursement, a special case can be made to pay any amount more than what is sanctioned under CGHS. For this powers are vested in the LS Secretariat,” said senior chief medical officer S V Ramakrishna.
Deepa Dasmunshi denied any problem. “The hospital dues are just pending for five-six months. The problem arose because Apollo was not under CGHS earlier. It will be sorted out soon,” she said.
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