Allahabad HC directs KNMH to provide details of free treatment to poor patients
3 Oct, 2013Hearing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by Saumya Bahadur and another respondent, the Division Bench of Acting Chief Justice Rakesh Srivastava and Justice Laxmi Kanta Mohapatra of the Allahabad High Court has directed to provide details of whether it gave free treatment to poor patients. The Court has sought information about the number of beds earmarked in KNMH for cancer patients as per the NCCP. The bench further directed the Kamla Nehru Memorial Hospital (KNMH) to provide the names and addresses of cancer patients who were given free treatment as per the government policies. The KNMH is one of the 27 Regional Cancer Centres of the country and is implementing the National Cancer Control Programme (NCCP).
Earlier it was reported in the media based on a RTI query that even though the Kamla Nehru Hospital got excess grants, the Comptroller and Auditor General’s (CAG) found that the same remained unutilised. Instead of providing the services to the needy, it was the people who were well connected who received the free and subsidised treatment. Media had reported the case of a 10-year-old Below Poverty Line cancer patient from Allahabad, Shivani Kesarwani, who struggled to receive treatment. Allegations of financial bungling have been raised against the hospital.