The Vavuniya Magistrate’s Court has imposed a fine of Rs. 500,000 on a private hospital for charging a fee above the approved rate for a Full Blood Count (FBC) blood test.
The legal action was filed by the Vavuniya District Investigation Officers of the Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA) under Direction No. 67 issued in terms of the Consumer Affairs Authority Act.
According to the CAA, a special inspection conducted on July 14 found that the private hospital located on Hospital Road, Vavuniya, had charged Rs. 550 for an FBC test, exceeding the government-approved maximum fee of Rs. 400.
The case was heard before the Vavuniya Magistrate’s Court on July 28, where the court imposed the fine after considering the facts presented.
The CAA has requested consumers to report private hospitals and medical laboratories charging fees above the approved rates by contacting the 1977 hotline during office hours.
