Hospitals shirking poor will face the music, says govt State promises stern action for not treating 10% poor free of charge
Surendra Gangan

The State Government has announced stern action against the city's private
hospitals which do not comply with the condition of treating 10 per cent
patients from the poorer sections of the society free of charge. While
accepting that no hospital does its part of charity, government said it has
lodged criminal case against Bhatia Hospital and will take stern action
against defaulters.

Minister of State for Law and Judiciary, Hasan Mushrif told the House that a
criminal case has been lodged against Bhatia Hospital at Tardev, as it had
not followed the specified rules. "Even Court is concerned about the status
and we have taken it very seriously. We will make the hospitals to put up
the boards mentioning about the available free treatment. Strict action will
be taken against the hospitals if they don't provide the facility to the
patients," he said.

The government was responding to BJP leader Madhukar Chavan question in
Legislative Council about the government's stand on hospitals violating the
law regarding the treatment for the poor. "Section 41(a)(4) of the Bombay
Public Trust Act 1950 clearly imposes upon the city's private hospitals to
treat 10 per cent patients from poorer sections free of charge. Despite the
High Court's strictures and clear-cut directions for action, the state
government has done nothing in the direction," said Madhu Chavan.

Chavan had raised this question in Upper House two years ago, when the
government was ordered to take immediate action against the errant hospitals
and check their records. The court, too, had then ordered the government,
during hearing of a PIL, to ensure that the hospitals abide by the law.
When government, through a committee, tried to check on records, it found
that no hospital, excepting Bombay Hospital to a certain extent, had
admitted poor patients free of charge.

"Hospitals like Lilavati, Hinduja, Raheja, Jaslok, Breach Candy take all
advantages of exemptions from Income tax, Sales Tax and Octroi while
importing machines and equipment. This, apart from concessions in water and
electricity supply. Against it, they are supposed to treat 10 per cent of
the patients cost free. But nobody is bothered to follow the rules," Chavan
said.


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