The State government on Thursday informed the Bombay High Court that it had formed a committee of medical officers to look into the problems in medical services, including that of hospitals detaining patients for non-payment of bills.
The committee is headed by the director of Maharashtra State Health Services, and has the Assistant Director (Hospitals), Health Services, Mumbai as its secretary. Other members of committee include Dr. Veena Pandit, President, Association of Medical Consultants, Mumbai; Dr P.M. Bhujang, President of Association of Hospitals in Mumbai; and Dr. Kishor Taori, President, Maharashtra Medical Council, the government told the HC.
The court was hearing a PIL about patients not being discharged by hospitals for non-payment of bills. In some cases, relatives of deceased patients were not allowed to take the body unless the dues were paid. The HC has held that detention of the patients by hospitals for non-payment of bills would amount to wrongful confinement, and hence the State will have to provide an adequate grievance redressal mechanism, so that relatives of patients could approach the appropriate authority for action against such instances.
Detention of patients for non-payment of bills would amount to wrongful confinement, the HC said
