Alleged birth crisis at Zeynep Kamil: Hospital bill rose from 45 thousand TL to 450 thousand

Aslı AĞIRDİL - 12punto.com.tr

On April 26, 2023, Govher Nuryyeva gave birth at the SBÜ Istanbul Zeynep Kamil Maternity and Children's Diseases Training and Research Hospital. As they were about to be discharged on April 28, 45 thousand TL was requested from her husband Ali Akgün as a birth fee. The family, whose child was also in an incubator, paid the money. At the end of the 4th day, Ali Akgün, who was called by Zeynep Kamil Hospital, stated that payment was requested again. As a result of the argument with the hospital management, the fee rose to 119 thousand TL. According to Ali Akgün, the requested fee, including interest, amounts to 450 thousand TL. If it is not paid, there is a possibility that Akgün could face imprisonment.

'I COULD NOT DISCHARGE MY WIFE EVEN THOUGH THE BIRTH WAS DELAYED'

Ali Akgün told 12Punto about his experiences at the Zeynep Kamil Maternity and Children's Diseases Training and Research Hospital, where he went for his wife Govher Nuryyeva's birth. Akgün stated that he could not discharge his wife even though the birth did not take place. Describing what happened at the hospital in the evening hours, Akgün said the following;

"In private hospitals, figures around 40 thousand liras were given for a 10-day full package for birth. Her doctor, who followed my wife throughout her pregnancy, directed us to Zeynep Kamil Maternity and Children's Diseases Hospital. Since the birth did not happen that day at Zeynep Kamil, the process dragged on. When the security guards also acted rudely, I wanted to take my wife out. They did not let me discharge my wife even though the birth was delayed.

NO MONEY, NO BABY

Akgün stated that the payment amount increased unexpectedly as a result of the argument with the hospital management. Stating that the hospital did not agree to reach an agreement on payment even though he brought a certificate of poverty, Akgün expressed that the hospital issued a foreclosure decision and the unpaid amount reached 450 thousand TL. Akgün described what he went through with these words:

“I called the Ministry of Health and Zeynep Kamil. ‘I have given you a commitment. How can you say this to me?’ An argument broke out there. On the day we were going to discharge the child, a payment of 40 thousand TL appeared. They do not give the child without making the payment. We went up to the hospital manager. They kept us at the door for 47 minutes saying there were guests. After a while, we went inside.

We mentioned the situation to the manager. The cashier told us ‘this money will be reduced’.

We entered with 39 thousand liras. The woman inside told the person processing the transaction, 'Charge as much as you can.' Suddenly the debt rose to 176 thousand liras. They made it 4 times higher. Since I paid 45 thousand liras of it, it corresponded to 119 thousand TL. The manager also said, 'If you can't pay, go get a poverty certificate.' The child stayed in the hospital that day too. The next day I got the poverty certificate and came back. The hospital did not accept it. They made us sign a promissory note, otherwise they said they would not give the child. They have now issued a foreclosure decision.”

THREAT OF “I WILL PULL THE PLUG ON THE INCUBATOR”

Akgün stated that he had paid the hospital fee, but that money was requested again on the day he was going to take his child out, and that if this money was not paid, the plug of the incubator would be pulled.

"When I discharged my wife from the hospital on the 2nd day, they demanded 45 thousand liras. The Minister of Health is supposedly saying, ‘this money will be collected.’ They don't discharge without payment. My wife was given a lot of anesthesia while she was giving birth. That's why the child was affected and ended up in an incubator. He stayed in the incubator for 4 days. I paid the 45 thousand TL in the meantime. I left the hospital on the 4th day. A phone call came from Zeynep Kamil. 'Why are you not making this payment? If you do not make the payment, I will pull all the plugs of the incubator, the responsibility is no longer ours.'

It has risen to 450 thousand TL with interest. Since they won't be able to get it from us, I guess I will go to prison. Normally I have insurance. But they found a way.

I also work in a taxi. The landlord evicted us the moment he heard what happened to us. We couldn't find a house either. We found a warehouse for our belongings. We have been staying with my older sister for a while. We cannot rent a house.”

ANSWER FROM THE HOSPITAL: THE PATIENT IS A FOREIGNER, THE PROCESS IS NORMAL

We asked the SBÜ Istanbul Zeynep Kamil Maternity and Children's Diseases Training and Research Hospital about Ali Akgün's allegations. The hospital, which denied the allegations, made the following statements to 12punto:

“The baby was in intensive care. Intensive care fees are very high. This patient has a residence permit. The baby has a debt of 113 thousand 446 liras. He was admitted on April 2 and discharged from the hospital on May 9. Since they could not pay their debt on time, naturally, an enforcement order came. Enforcement proceedings have been initiated. This is how the process works. There is nothing we can do about this, they will pay this money. They will pay, there is no other way. Unfortunately, because the patient is a foreigner. One day of intensive care is just one package, 9 thousand 731 liras. The patient knows this. We provide detailed information to our patients.”

News Source: 12punto