Mohali, Sept. 21 -- A district consumer panel has directed Max Super Speciality Hospital, Phase 6, to pay Rs.20,000 compensation to a 70-year-old Nayagaon resident for deficiency in service after the hospital issued three different bills for his treatment and later reported to police that he had fled without clearing dues.

Inder Pal Bakshi, a resident of Shivalik Vihar, approached the commission, alleging that he visited the hospital with low back pain in December 2021 and doctors advised spinal surgery. Bakshi said he informed the hospital that he had insurance cover of Rs.5 lakh. According to his complaint, the hospital estimated the admission and surgery cost at Rs.3.9 lakh, which could increase to Rs.4 lakh, and told him that he woul...