Treat poor for free: SC to Delhi pvt hospitals
NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Monday ruled that all private hospitals in Delhi, that were given land on concessional rate, must provide free treatment to a certain percentage of poor patients.
The court observed that the provision of free treatment to the poor was one of the clauses in the lease deed under which government land was given to hospitals at very cheap prices.
A bench headed by Justice Arun Mishra stated that it is mandatory for private hospitals built on land allocated by the Delhi government on concessional rates, to provide 10 per cent treatment in the in-patient department (IPD) and 25 per cent in the out patient department (OPD) for free.
"Any resistance by the hospitals would lead to cancellation of the lease," the bench said, while seeking a periodical report on compliance of its order from the Delhi government.
The bench further said it will monitor the functioning of private hospitals to ensure that the poor patients are treated free of cost.
Recently, the Delhi government had fined five prominent private hospitals in the city a total of Rs 600 crore for not treating poor patients as mandated by the law, underscoring the scanty healthcare options available to the economically weaker sections (EWS).
The penalised hospitals included Fortis Escorts Heart Institute in Okhla, Max Superspeciality Hospital in Saket, Pushpawati Singhania Research Institute in south Delhi, Shanti Mukund Hospital in east Delhi, and Dharmashila Hospital and Research Centre.
The fine was levied after a government audit of hospital services given to poor patients between the time the institutes were set up and the date the order for the audit was passed by the Delhi High Court.
Responding to the apex court's decision, the Chief Minister tweeted, "A big victory for common man. Del govt was pursuing this issue vigorously. It will ensure accountability of big pvt hospitals and provide huge relief to poor people."
A spokesperson of the Delhi government said, "We welcome the Supreme Court judgement upholding the free treatment principle for EWS patients in Delhi private hospitals, which have got government land on subsidised rates. Private hospitals cannot be allowed to fleece patients and must be reined in."
