EWS patient asked to pay for medicines in violation of norms

The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of a noted private hospital has been accused of abusing and turning down a patient of the Economically Weaker Section (EWS) in the city. According to the complaint, the CEO was angry on the persistent demand of the patient for a free treatment. The incident was recorded which went viral on social media. 

“Pushpawati Singhania Research Institute is a notified private hospital and entitled to provide completely free medical services to 10 per cent IPD and 25 per cent OPD patients of the EWS category. The behaviour of the CEO R K Sharma is inhuman and violates the orders of the Delhi high court related to the free treatment of EWS patients,” said Ashok Agarwal, member of EWS beds monitoring committee constituted on the directions of the High Court. 

According to the complainant, the hospital provided free health services but forced her to purchase medicines worth around Rs 30,000. As per the audio, Sharma is allegedly abusing a relative of the patient Shama Parveen. Agarwal has written a letter to the Principal Secretary of Delhi government demanding immediate action against the hospital.  

“The hospital be directed to provide free medicines to all the EWS patients including Parveen. The hospital should also be directed to refund the money they had charged to Parveen,” said Agarwal in the letter. The patient, suffering from liver and heart disease, was admitted to the hospital for operation under the EWS category.