A doctor who had tested positive for the coronavirus has alleged that she was detained by a private hospital here over non-payment of medical bills that she claimed worked out to Rs 1.15 lakh for a day’s treatment.

In a selfie video that has been widely shared on social media, the middle-aged civil assistant surgeon of a state-run fever hospital is purportedly seen accusing the private hospital of overcharging.

She also claimed that she was not given proper medication and now the hospital was not discharging her. In the video, the doctor said that she had been treating herself at home after testing positive for the coronavirus.

Late on July 1, she said she experienced shortness of breath and got herself admitted to the private hospital.

“I am a Covid-19 warrior. For one day, they charged me Rs 1.15 lakh. I could not pay so much. I am a diabetic and I’m not getting proper medication here. They are making baseless allegations. I am in trouble. I paid Rs 40,000, but they detained me,” the doctor claimed in the video.

She said she had filed a police complaint against the private hospital.

Fever hospital superintendent Dr K. Shankar said the doctor had tested positive four days ago and had been under home quarantine. “She was told that the government had made all arrangements, but without informing higher officials she herself got admitted to the private hospital,” he said.

He said he had sent a resident medical officer to the private hospital to sort out the payment issue. However, by then the doctor had been discharged.