Bengaluru, Jul 14 (IANS): Karnataka government has initiated criminal cases against two private hospitals, Apollo Jayanagar and Vikram Hospital, here, for denying admission to Covid patients and shut their outpatient departments (OPDs) for two days, a Minister said on Tuesday.

"Two private hospitals, Apollo Jayanagar and Vikram Hospital, have been served notice and OPDs have been ordered to shut for two days," said Medical Education Minister K. Sudhakar.

Despite several rounds of meetings with private hospitals to join forces with the government in fighting the Covid pandemic, he said some hospitals still continue to refuse admission.

The Minister invoked Karnataka Private Medical Establishments (KPME) Act for initiating the action against the erring hospitals.

Similarly, he also warned those private hospitals which are charging more treatment fees than what the government has capped.

"Some private hospitals are charging more than the capped price for patients visiting on their own. Strict action will be taken against such hospitals including criminal charge," he pointed out.

Sudhakar exhorted the private hospitals to respect the law and refrain from exploiting people by charging exorbitant fees.

Three more private hospitals have been identified for not reserving beds for Covid patients, Saptagiri Hospital, BGS Hospital and Dr. Ambedkar Hospital.

He said these will do so in three days' time.