Are the private hospitals offering treatment to poor patients?
13 Feb, 2012
Nearly four years back, the Delhi High Court mandated reservation of 10 per cent beds and 25 per cent out-patient facilities for the poor in private hospitals in Delhi. The compliance has been poor.
As per figures provided by Delhi government in an RTI application, none of the major hospitals were able to treat the mandated number of patients. Last year, the government received 91 complaints about refusal of treatment against hospitals including Max Hospital in Saket and Patparganj (8 complaints), Indian Spinal Injuries Centre (5 complaints), Dharamshila Cancer Hospital (3 complaints), Sir Gangaram Hospital (4 complaints), Batra Hospital (4 complaints), Rockland Hospital (3 complaints), Fortis Escorts Hospital (2 complaints) and Jaipur Golden Hospital (3 complaints).
Out of the above, seven of the complaints were lodged by government hospitals after patients referred by them were turned away. The Delhi State Cancer Institute, East Delhi against Dharamshila Cancer Hospital; the GTB Hospital and Safdarjung Hospital against Max and Batra Hospital; Madan Mohan Malaviya Hospital against Rockland Hospital and VIMHANS; and Deen Dayal Upadhyay Hospital against Action Balaji, Indian Spinal Injuries Centre and Rockland Hospital.