Row over luxury tax on doctors in Hyderabad

Hyderabad: While the doctors are crying foul over luxury tax being passed on to patients, the cost of managing the hospitals is also a “shared burden” of the patients. Mr Srinivas Rao, a lawyer with consumer courts said, “Cost of diagnostic equipment, world class treatment facilities are all being extorted from the patients. Hence it is wrong to say that it is being borne only by doctors. Streamlining medical facilities and bringing a rationale in the costs is a long pending demand.”

But doctors say that they are already under the burden of multiple taxes from municipal and fire departments. Senior general physician Dr R. Raghu said, “The other taxes like property and fire safety are not being listed in patients’ bills. Luxury tax will have to be shown in the bills of the patient. These will then be collected and given to the government. Why must we do that?” It has also been alleged that doctors evade income tax too. A senior doctor said, “All consultants in THANA as well as TSHA have to pay tax. The amount is given only after cutting the tax. Let the government go and catch the evaders, whoever they may be. Why are we being subjected to a collection process that we strongly believe will harm doctor-patient relationship?”

Doctors claim that the amount collected from patients is charges for hospital administration and doctors’ fees, but extra charges require to be explained to patients and this will add to their burden.