More than 1,000 doctors from over 350 private hospitals in the State reached out to 53,000 poor patients living in slums, tribal and remote areas of Maharashtra on Sunday, during a special drive initiated by the charity commissioner.
Private hospitals run by charitable trusts are infamous for turning away poor patients, even though they are mandated to treat them, spurring Charity Commissioner Shivkumar Dige to organise a compulsory drive.
“The doctors reached out to people in areas like Melghat and Gadchiroli. Many slums areas and adivasi padas were covered in the drive,” said Mr. Dige, who was in Pune overseeing the drive.
“Many suspected cancers and heart ailments have been diagnosed, and the patients have been referred further to the hospitals. Besides these, close to 100 patients were advised admission to hospitals immediately,” he said.
On November 4, a similar drive was undertaken in Mumbai, in which 74 charitable trust hospitals participated. The remaining 354-odd hospitals in the State participated in Sunday’s drive.
Future impact
Asked if a day-long drive would do any good in terms of improving access for the poor to these posh hospitals, Mr. Dige said the drive may have been for a day, but was meant to spread the message that medical care at these hospitals is the right of people from the economically backward class.
“Along with the doctors, my staff of over 200 people was also on the field to explain this to as many people as possible. At present, many of the poor have absolutely no clue that they have such a right,” Mr. Dige said.
Hospitals’ responsibility
Private hospitals run by a trust are known as charitable trust hospitals. Due to the aspect of charity attached to them, they get concessions in water and electricity supply, income tax, drugs, octroi, customs duty and Floor Space Index (FSI). In return, they have to deposit 2% of their income to an Indigent Patients Fund, that has to be utilised to treat needy patients with annual income less than ₹25,000. The hospitals also have to reserve 10% of their beds for these patients.
They have to reserve another 10% beds for the economically weaker section of patients with annual income less than ₹50,000 and provide them treatment and services at concessional rates. All the patient has to do is provide a certificate from the tehsildar or a ration card or a below poverty line card.
But there have been plenty of cases of poor patients being turned away by swanky hospitals, either with a demand for a hefty deposit or for some other reason.
“The State-wide drive was just the first step. We will encourage the poor to file complaints with us if these hospitals refuse to treat them, so that action can be initiated,” said Mr. Dige.
The commissioner witnessed the reluctance at these hospitals in treating poor patients first hand, when he posed as one and visited Nanavati Hospital in Vile Parle and was denied treatment.
