It takes courage to cancel licence: CM on Max Hospital

NEW DELHI: The Delhi government is not against private hospitals, but it will not hesitate to act sternly in cases of criminal negligence and "looting of parents", Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said at Talkatora Stadium on Saturday.

The Chief Minister was speaking at the launch of the 'Jai Bhim Mukhyamantri Pratibha Vikas Yojna', a scheme that provides educational assistance of up to Rs 40,000 to students from the Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, Other Backward Castes and minority communities.

The scheme will also provide these students free coaching at established coaching institutions for entrance to medical and engineering courses, and competitive examinations such as Railway Recruitment Board, banking, insurance etc.

Thousands attended the event at Talkatora Stadium, where the scheme was launched to commemorate Parinirvan Diwas, Dr BR Ambedkar's death anniversary.

During his address, Kejriwal said it takes courage to cancel the licence of a leading healthcare facility like the Max Hospital in Shalimar Bagh.

On Friday, the AAP-led government decided to cancel the hospital's licence for alleged medical negligence on multiple instances – including one in which it wrongly declared an alive baby dead on November 30.

The baby's body was handed over to their parents in a plastic bag, along with his still-born sister. He died during treatment at a nursing home in Pitampura a week later.

The Delhi Medical Association and the Indian Medical Association have criticised the AAP government's decision to cancel the license of the private hospital as harsh. The DMA called the decision "irrational and autocratic".

Kejriwal, however, attacked the previous dispensation in Delhi, alleging they were often hand in glove with the "big" and the mighty.

"If we had entered into any setting with the hospital, we would not have been able to face our conscience and would have lost the faith of the people. We are not against private hospitals. But we will hesitate to act sternly in cases of criminal negligence and looting of patients," he said.

Citing his government's handling of discoms, he said power tariffs had not risen in Delhi in the past three years.

Attacking his political rivals, Kejriwal claimed "some powers" were trying to crush him and his party. He sought people's support so that he can work "honestly".