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New Delhi: At least 70 per cent of Indians were charged more for ambulances, 36 per cent for oxygen and 19 per cent for medicines during the aggressive second wave of the Covid pandemic in April-May, a new survey has revealed.
The survey, conducted by LocalCircle, a community social media platform, also found that half of those who paid more for an ambulance were charged five times the normal rate.
About 30 percent said they were “charged at regular price”, 10 percent were charged “100-500% more than the regular price”, while 50 percent were “charged at 500 percent or more of the regular price”.
Of the 36 per cent who overpaid for oxygen concentrators, cylinders, oximeters and other items, 4 per cent said they were charged between the MRP and up to two times the regular price, 14 per cent to two to three times the regular price. was taken and three times the MRP was charged at 18 per cent.
A total of 38,000 responses were received by the survey in 389 districts of India.
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drugs and tests
The survey also noted over-pricing of drugs like Tocilizumab, Remdesivir AMD Fabiflu during the second wave. These drugs were in high demand at that time for the treatment of covid and its symptoms.
It found that 30 per cent of the respondents were given exemption for medicines related to Kovid, while MRP was charged from another 30 per cent.
Meanwhile, 5 per cent said they were charged between two times the MRP and the regular price, another 5 per cent were charged two to three times the regular price and yet 5 per cent were charged between three to 10 times the MRP. The middle was collected.
According to the survey, more than ten times the regular cost of medicines was paid by 9 per cent of respondents, while 16 per cent chose the “can’t say” option and are likely to be charged more.
According to the survey, 13 per cent of Indians who underwent RT-PCR tests during the second wave were overcharged by private laboratories and hospitals.
Meanwhile, nine per cent got it free of cost in a government facility, 36 per cent at a government-fixed price in a private hospital and 38 per cent used a home sample collection service.
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