supreme court order
Background
"It is my aspiration that health finally will be seen not as a blessing to be wished for, but as a human right to be fought for."
—United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan
Between 1950-2000: 37private hospitals in Delhi-NCR were sanctioned land on concessional rates for as low as Rupee 1.
More than 800 beds should be reserved for EWS quotafree of cost.
2007:
Delhi High Court orders all private hospitals in the National Capital to provide free medical treatment to the underprivileged. As per court orders, hospitals must comply by 25% OPD reserve and 10% bed reserve. A separate account is maintained in regard to their treatment expenditure at CGHS rates.
The hospitals charging any money from such patients shall be liable to be proceeded against in accordance with the law.
2011:
Supreme Court ordered that all private hospitals that have availed land at concessional rates, must provide free treatment to people falling below poverty line- with no cap on costs.
The hospital may make arrangements to meet costs from sponsorships or endorsements, but at no point can the patient be billed.
City hospitals to reserve 25% of their out-patient department capacity and 10% of their beds at indoor levels for free treatment of the poor.
The court was hearing a plea filed by Social Jurists, a civil society group that alleged that three hospitals - Rajiv Gandhi Cancer Hospital, Moolchand and St Stephen's –did not comply with the high court's March 2007 order.
The high court pronounced the judgment on a PIL seeking implementation of the land lease agreement between the government and the hospitals for providing, among other things, free treatment to certain percentage of the poor patients out of their total treatment capacities.
Last hearing date – 24 November 2011
Next hearing date – 12 February 2012
http://advashokagarwal.blogspot.com/2011/11/private-hospital-asked-to-refund-money.html
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2011
PRIVATE HOSPITAL ASKED TO REFUND MONEY TO POOR PATIENT
- Monitoring Committee of which I am a member inspected three private hospitals, namely, Delhi ENT Hospital & Research Centre, Jasola, GujarmalModi Hospital, Saket and Max Super Specialty Hospital, Saket on Monday November 08, 2011. The Committee noted that in ENT Hospital & Research Centre, a female patient whose family monthly income was less than Rs.6422/- was admitted in the paid category whereas all the three free beds were lying vacant. The Committee advised the Hospital that the concerned patient must be converted in free category and the money deposited (Rs.2500/-) be refunded. It was found that 6 free beds out of 10 were lying vacant in GujarmalModi Hospital whereas 26 free beds out of 30 were lying vacant in Max Super Specialty Hospital.
POSTED BY ADV. ASHOK AGARWAL AT 8:11 AM
