Anil Benake, BJP MLA from Belagavi North got a bill for Rs 8,55,856 for the treatment of COVID which includes Rs 1.92 lakh on his treatment and the remainder on treatment for his wife, daughter, and parents.
Many of the MLA’ S who have now been cured of COVID have applied for reimbursement. BJP’s Raibag MLA Duryodhana Aihole, who has submitted a Rs 3 lakh bill, Bhadravathi Congress MLA BK Sangameshwar has filed a bill for Rs 5.11 lakh, Gurmeetakal JDS MLA Naganagouda Kandakur has filed a bill for Rs 5.52 lakh and many others.
The Rules laid down by the govt oblige them to take up the medical expenses of the elected representatives and their families. But in the case of COVID treatment, an infected person, whether private citizen or public representative, must first be registered by the government and then be referred by the government to a private hospital for Covid treatment.
Only then is the patient entitled to reimbursement of the treatment costs. If a person is admitted directly to a private hospital, bypassing the government system, the government is under no obligation to bear the treatment expenses.
Now it would be interesting to see if the Govt pays up the bills of the MLA’s and kin or will adhere to COVID guidelines.
with inputs from https://thebengalurulive.com
