Dasmunsis bills unpaid as govt studies rule book

Priya Ranjan Dasmunsis medical bills over Rs 50 lakh have not been paid since April this year.

Listen to this article

00:00

1x 1.5x 1.8x

In coma for the last three years at the Indraprastha Apollo Hospital here,former union minister Priya Ranjan Dasmunsis medical bills have not been paid since April this year. The total dues reportedly add up to over Rs 50 lakh.

So far,the Lok Sabha Secretariat paid for Dasmunsis 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.

Story continues below this ad

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.

When contacted,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.

Gaza-bound Flotilla says it was struck by drone in Tunisian waters; authorities deny claim

World2 hr ago

The Global Sumud Flotilla (GSF) for Gaza said early Tuesday that one of its main boats was struck by a drone off the Tunisian waters, but all the six passengers and crew are reportedly safe, Reuters reported. However, Tunisia's National Guard spokesman told Mosaique FM radio that reports of a drone attack on the flotilla "have no basis in truth".

View all shorts

Live Blog