PIL against Adani’s control of Bhuj hospital dismissed

According to the HC directions,the hospital will remain a public property and its name will not be changed. A committee having nominees from the government and from the private partner would manage its affairs and the income of the hospital and the medical college will have to be spent on the development of the hospital only.

The court has also ordered that Adani will have to comply with its promise to add 450 beds to the hospital,which has 33 beds at present. Ten per cent of the medical seats of the medical college will have to be reserved for the students of Kutch district. At the same time,poor patients,government and HC employees will have to be given free treatment at the hospital.

The PIL was moved by a local leader from Kutch,Adam Chaki,who had challenged the state government resolution passed in May 2009. The government had implemented the resolution only in part,handing over the running of the medical college to the business group. The PIL contended that poor patients from Kutch were already facing problems in getting treatment at the hospital and if the administration of the same was given to GAIMS,it would turn into an economically non-viable option for them to get medical treatment there.

G K General Hospital was demolished in 2001 earthquake and was rebuilt with money from the Prime Minister’s Relief Fund.