Charitable hospital notification soon: state

In October 2005,the court had constituted an expert committee headed by the joint charity commissioner to give recommendations under the BPT Act. The committee filed a report in April 2006,which the court accepted with some modifications.

The scheme obliges charitable hospitals to reserve beds for needy patients,treat them in an emergency and have a dedicated fund for them.

As per the court order,these hospitals should reserve 10 per cent of beds free for patients who earn less than Rs 25,000 a year,and provide treatment at concession for another 10 per cent,selected from patients who earn less than Rs 50,000 a year. The court had also suggested a helpline for complaints against charitable hospitals.

The issue was taken up following a PIL by city advocate Sanjeev Punalekar who alleged that these hospitals,despite getting concessions,were not providing free or concessional treatment to the needy. Following the PIL,a scheme was framed and implemented by hospitals.

Recently the Association of Hospitals has also agreed to treat rail accident victims in charitable hospitals regardless of their financial status.

A division Bench of Justice Bilal Nazki and Justice V K Tahilramani disposed of the petition after observing that the scheme was by and large was acceptable to all parties.

“The monitoring mechanism as laid down in the scheme will remain in place,” Mistry said. “There are 70 charitable hospitals in the city and over 400 in the state.”