Referral of a patient to a Private Hospital from a government hospital
26 Feb, 2012Background
The appellant’s 8 years old nephew was treated by Doctors in Sanjay Gandhi Memorial Hospital, New Delhi for almost one and half months after which the Doctors informed the appellant to move the patient to another hospital since they were not in a position to provide further treatment. The appellant requested to refer the boy to Balaji Action Hospital which is a private hospital and is close to their residence. However, the authorities of Sanjay Gandhi Hospital refused to do so stating that they can refer the patient only to a Government Hospital and not to a private hospital. On the intervention of higher authorities, eventually the child was transferred to Balaji Action Hospital. Against this backdrop, the appellant sought information against thirty points seeking various information pertaining to complaints which he filed between 20.5.11 and 31.5.11 to the hospital. The PIO furnished point wise information. The First Appellate Authority (FAA) denied some information claiming that it related to a third party (the patient).
View of the CIC
The appellant complained against the PIO for insisting on payment of the RTI Fee of Rs.10/-even though he had enclosed a Below Poverty Line (BPL) category certificate along with his RTI application. The respondent admitted their mistake and explained that it was an inadvertent mistake committed since the certificate for some reasons was not noticed. The appellant pointed out that there was a delay in providing information to him. While agreeing that there is a delay in supply of information, the Commission decided not to initiate any penal proceedings against the PIO holding that the delay was marginal – only 4 days. The PIO was warned that not providing the information within the mandatory period of thirty days is a violation of the law. The Commission agreed to the request of the appellant to be provided with copies of two applications. Further, the medical records of the patient too were directed to be provided once again to the appellant after attesting the same.
Citation: Shri Munna Lal Chaurasia v. Sanjay Gandhi Memorial Hospital in file no. CIC/AD/A/2012/000209
RTI Citation : RTIFI/2012/CIC/131
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