Delhi government’s decision to showcause 10 private hospitals for violating the court directive of providing free treatment to the poor has to be welcomed by all means. One of the major concerns of public healthcare in the city, in fact in the whole country, is the impunity with which private health service providers get away without treating poor patients in the dire hour of their need. One must note that most of these hospitals were given land on concessional rates or other incentives on the basis of the rider that they have to reserve 25 per cent of their out-patient capacity and 10 per cent of beds for free treatment of the poor. In order to get land, private hospitals often wax eloquent about their commitment to poor citizens, only to violate the dictum at the very first opportunity. This practice, by all means, must stop and it is indeed heartening to see that Delhi Health Minister A K Walia has taken the initiative to showcause the hospitals. In a climate when political recapitulation to the influence of power and money is total and unequivocal, Walia’s stand is likely to have many supporters.
Saying that, one wonders whether Walia would be able to follow up his strong stand to its logical end or whether there would be political intervention to bury the matter. This is a big issue and Walia may be only too aware that by indicting healthcare biggies like Escorts, Max, Fortis etc, Walia has stepped right into the tail of the snake. One would hope that he stays put and is not overrun by other bigger interests in the government and outside. There are no two ways about the fact that the hospitals must be accountable to their founding principles and must provide to the poor what has been allocated, if not more! Unless they do, they have no right to enjoy the privileges of running a healthcare business. While looking at the issue, the government should also enquire if these hospitals are violating other norms also. Private medical care is big business in India and it is only imperative that the government, the administration and lawmakers intervene from time to time to ensure that the industry does not become the playground of few canny and crony profiteers. Healthcare cannot totally be monetised and Walia’s stand reiterates the fact. One would have only hoped that he would have pulled the strings early than giving the long rope to the private hospitals again and again in such matters and other, that need immediate attention.
Saying that, one wonders whether Walia would be able to follow up his strong stand to its logical end or whether there would be political intervention to bury the matter. This is a big issue and Walia may be only too aware that by indicting healthcare biggies like Escorts, Max, Fortis etc, Walia has stepped right into the tail of the snake. One would hope that he stays put and is not overrun by other bigger interests in the government and outside. There are no two ways about the fact that the hospitals must be accountable to their founding principles and must provide to the poor what has been allocated, if not more! Unless they do, they have no right to enjoy the privileges of running a healthcare business. While looking at the issue, the government should also enquire if these hospitals are violating other norms also. Private medical care is big business in India and it is only imperative that the government, the administration and lawmakers intervene from time to time to ensure that the industry does not become the playground of few canny and crony profiteers. Healthcare cannot totally be monetised and Walia’s stand reiterates the fact. One would have only hoped that he would have pulled the strings early than giving the long rope to the private hospitals again and again in such matters and other, that need immediate attention.