Delhi government slaps Rs 700 crore fine on reluctant hospitals

Government rules clearly stipulate that 10% of all patients admitted as in-patients to private hospitals are entitled to free quality treatment, the rule also entails that free treatment should be provided for 25% out-patients in hospitals.

After several media reports on how many private hospitals deny free treatment to poorer sections of society emerged, the Delhi government slapped five prominent hospitals with a fine of ₹ 700 Crore. These hospitals include Fortis Escorts Heart Institute, Max Super-specialty Hospital, Shanti Mukund Hospital, Dharmashila Cancer Hospital and Pushpavati Singhania Research Institute.

Around 43 premium hospitals were allotted land at subsidised prices with a clause that some portion of beds were to be reserved exclusively to treat poor patients, both as inpatients and outpatients. The hospital authorities duly agreed to the clause at the time of allotment.

However, reports reveal these hospitals were making huge profits by deviating these reserved beds to the affluent and the rich while denying quality treatment to the poorer sections, flouting the stipulated provision.