Delhi: Government set to firm action against defaulting hospitals

New Delhi: Health Minister Dr. A.K. Walia today strongly urged the Chief Executives, Directors and Medical Superintendents of 43 identified private hospitals to proactively ensure that the quantum of free treatment as directed by the Courts i.e. 10% In-door Patient Deptt. (IPD) and 25% of total Out-door Patient Deptt. (OPD) is provided to the EWS patients without any qualification or reservation. He warned that if these hospitals are found wanting in implementing the legal provisions with regard to free treatment to poor patients, the Government of Delhi will step up harsh and firm action against the defaulter hospitals.

The Health Minister was delivering key-note address at the workshop organized by the Delhi Government at Delhi Secretariat to strengthen free medical care to Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) in private hospitals. The workshop was aimed at sensitizing stake-holders for realizing health care entitlements of EWS in 43 identified hospitals. The participants comprised senior functionaries of the private, Delhi Government hospitals, social-activists, media persons, government officials from Health sector etc.

Expressing firm commitment to ensure 100% implementation of the Court directions enabling poor patients to get medical facilities in some of the leading hospitals, Dr. Walia informed that recently 10 identified private hospitals, namely, Dharamshila, Escorts, Max Saket, Fortis Vasant Kunj, Primus, Rockland, VIMHANS, Bensups, G.M. Modi and Jessa Ram Hospitals, have been issued notices to explain why proceedings of contempt of court should not be initiated against them. He asked other hospitals to take cue from hospitals like Ganga Ram Hospital and Sri Balaji Action Medical Institute whose efforts regarding free treatment is commendable.

The Health Minister disclosed that the Delhi Government is soon starting an SMS service by which the general public can easily know the availability of free beds in each of the identified private hospitals along with the available specialties there. He informed that apart from the EWS patients who are residents of Delhi, the facility of free treatment has been extended to EWS patients residing anywhere in the country.

Dr. Walia informed that the network of ambulance services of Delhi Government will be soon linked up with transportation services to the patients being admitted or need to be admitted in private hospitals. He asked Doctors in Government Hospitals to step up referrals to the identified private hospitals as the number of such referral cases is still very low. He emphasized the need for setting up of 24X7 phone services and help-desk in private hospitals so that poor patients are not required to run here and there and receive all information and admission services at one point.