It is mandatory for charity hospitals to reserve 10 beds for poor patients and 10 beds for weaker section patients.
An unhealthy and unethical development has come to the fore in connection with deprivation of rightful medical treatment to poor and weaker section patients in charity hospitals. It is mandatory for charity hospitals to reserve 10 beds for poor patients and 10 beds for weaker section patients. But these hospitals have been found violating the mandatory aspect with impunity. And this information was provided by none other than Charity Commissioner Ashok Matte himself while addressing a press conference today (December 5). “Now onwards, the charity hospitals would be strictly told to put up boards in front of the hospitals mentioning the schemes meant for poor and weaker section patients,” the Charity Commissioner said.
The Charity Commissioner further said, “According to High Court orders, the charity hospitals must keep 10 beds for poor patients (Annual income limit Rs 50,000) and 10 beds for weaker section patients (Annual income limit Rs 1,00,000) reserved for them. Poor patients are provided all the treatments including surgical operations free of cost. However, the weaker section patients have to pay at concessional rates or maximum 50 per cent amount for the treatment at the charity hospitals. There are 15 charity hospitals in Nagpur and the implementation of the scheme is expected. The hospitals are equipped with all facilities. However, it was found that the patients in the groups lacked the proper information about the scheme. Therefore, the patients are not availing the benefits. However, some charity hospitals intentionally deprive such patients the benefits of the scheme. Now, such hospitals would face stringent actions. Several beds, meant for poor and weaker section patients, were found empty during the surprise inspection in October. The charity hospitals which do not provide the benefits to poor and weaker section patients would now face action under Section 66 (B) of Mumbai Public Trust Management Act which entails 3-month jail or a fine of Rs 20,000. All charity hospitals have been directed to put up boards mandatorily mentioning detailed information about the scheme and also keep complaint boxes. The hospitals have been given 15 days to implement the directives,” the Charity Commissioner Ashok Matte said.
“My office will go on giving a comprehensive publicity to the scheme through radio, TV and newspapers. Similarly, posters, banners would be put up at Railway Station, Bus Stand and vantage points. Those patients who are denied the benefits by the charity hospitals should approach my office and lodge complaints,” the Charity Commissioner said.
NAMES OF CHARITY HOSPITALS:
The 15 charity hospitals in Nagpur include Lata Mangeshkar Hospital, Sitabuldi and Digdoh, Matruseva Sangh, Sitabuldi and Mahal, Janata Maternity Home and Hospital, Jaripatka, CIIMS Hospital, Bajaj Nagar, Radhakrishna Hospital, Wardhaman Nagar, Asha Bhavan, Siraspeth, Rashtrasant Tukdoji Regional Cancer Hospital, Tukdoji Statue, Dr Dalvi Hospital, Garoba Maidan, Sushrut Hospital, Ramdaspeth, Pakvasa Samanvay Rugnalaya, Hanuman Nagar, Mure Memorial, Sitabuldi, Nagpur Homoeopathic Hospital, Khidmad Hospital, Shanti Nagar, Mahatme Eye Bank and Hospital, Somalwada, and Tarini Ayurvedic Hospital, Shakarpur.
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