From the moment a patient is admitted to a private hospital, billing often begins relentlessly, with families frequently facing mounting expenses despite claims of inadequate care and unnecessary medication. An India Today investigation, based on extensive ground reporting from Greater Noida, Ranchi, Munger, Bhopal and Lucknow, has brought to light a disturbing pattern of alleged medical negligence, coercive billing practices and exploitation of vulnerable patients across multiple states.
One of the most harrowing cases emerged from Bihar, involving Tinku Sahu, a young man whose routine hospital visit turned into a permanent tragedy. His right leg was amputated without the consent or knowledge of his family, who further alleged that they were confined within the hospital premises for nearly two weeks. The situation escalated to such an extent that the district magistrate had to intervene personally to secure the family’s release, highlighting the gravity of the allegations.
In Greater Noida, grief was compounded by humiliation when a hospital reportedly refused to release the body of a deceased patient for several hours due to unpaid bills. The family was forced to plead repeatedly until police intervention finally ensured that the body was handed over, exposing the emotional toll such practices inflict on already distressed relatives.
Ranchi witnessed another troubling case where a senior citizen lost his life, with the family alleging medical negligence and misuse of insurance coverage. According to them, hospital authorities generated inflated bills and later attempted to evade accountability. Similar complaints, India Today found, are increasingly common in mid-sized private hospitals, where oversight is often weak and patients have limited recourse.
Amid these growing concerns, the Government of India has taken a step aimed at improving transparency in healthcare billing. A new Indian Standard, IS 19493:2025 – Indian Standard for Healthcare Services: Format of Hospital Bills, has been introduced to standardise hospital bills and strengthen consumer rights. The standard was released by Union Minister for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Pralhad Joshi on National Consumer Day, with the intention of curbing arbitrary charges and making billing practices more transparent.
In Munger, District Magistrate Nikhil Dhanraj Nippanikar confirmed that a complaint was submitted on December 2, 2025, by Mahesh Sahu, alleging that his injured son was being unlawfully detained in a private hospital. Acting on the complaint, a medical team from Sadar Hospital was dispatched to investigate conditions at National Hospital, where the patient was being treated.
According to the complaint, Mahesh Sahu’s son was injured in a road accident and initially taken to Sadar Hospital for emergency care. From there, he was referred elsewhere, but instead of being taken to Patna as advised, he was moved directly to National Hospital in Munger. During treatment, his right leg was amputated in the middle of the night, allegedly without the family’s informed consent.
The family claimed the hospital demanded large sums of money, collecting nearly ₹4 lakh from a bicycle-based utensil seller through donations and loans. When they failed to meet further demands, the patient’s wife and mother were allegedly held inside the hospital for around 13 days. After learning of the incident, the district magistrate intervened, leading to the patient’s rescue and transfer back to Sadar Hospital.
Tinku later recounted that he was unconscious when the amputation was performed and only discovered the loss of his leg days later. He said the doctors later told him that had he been taken to Patna, the limb could have been saved using surgical implants. The family now fears for its survival, as Tinku was the sole breadwinner supporting several dependents.
Following the incident, the district administration constituted a three-member inquiry panel under the Clinical Establishment Act to probe the matter. The panel submitted its report, after which a notice was issued to National Hospital. Authorities warned that failure to provide a satisfactory response within 30 days could result in cancellation of the hospital’s registration. Show-cause notices were also issued to certain officials linked to the case.
In Greater Noida, a separate incident involved a patient admitted to a large private hospital after suffering a brain haemorrhage. After his death, the hospital allegedly withheld the body due to unpaid dues amounting to ₹3 lakh. The family said they had been making payments regularly but were denied updates on the patient’s condition. The body was released only after police intervention, several hours later.
Ranchi saw allegations against a 300-bed private hospital where a retired bank employee was admitted in May 2025. His son alleged that once the hospital learned the patient was insured, he was shifted to the ICU and billed heavily from the very first day. Within days, the bill rose to over ₹5 lakh. The family further alleged gross negligence in treatment, including improper medical procedures that led to fatal infections. Despite repeated requests, the hospital management allegedly failed to respond.
In Lucknow, a man who suffered injuries in a road accident was left permanently disabled after undergoing surgery at a private hospital. Over time, his condition worsened, leading to multiple surgeries and eventual amputation. He claimed he was misled about the hospital’s capabilities, repeatedly asked to deposit money, and transferred between facilities. The financial burden reportedly pushed him into deep debt. After investigation, authorities cancelled the hospital’s registration and halted its operations.
Bhopal witnessed yet another case where the family of a young woman accused a hospital of excessive billing and negligence following her death during treatment for a leg injury. An FIR was registered against hospital staff, though the hospital denied wrongdoing and claimed treatment was provided under a government health scheme.
Taken together, these cases paint a troubling picture of systemic issues in private healthcare, where billing practices, lack of transparency and alleged negligence have devastating consequences for patients and families. The India Today investigation underscores the urgent need for stricter regulation, accountability and enforcement to ensure that hospitals serve patients rather than exploit them in moments of vulnerability.
