Only 11 hospitals reserving facilities: Shetty

State Health Minister Suresh Shetty admitted on Tuesday that only 11 of 53 charitable hospitals in Mumbai are reserving 20 per cent facilities for the poor. Replying to a query raised by Congress MLC Sanjay Dutt,Shetty in the legislative council said 49 charitable hospitals were inspected by the government in January and only 11 were found reserving 10 per cent of their facilities

Government provides land,electricity and water at subsidised rates to charitable hospitals. Under the Rajiv Gandhi Jeevandayi Yojna (RGJAY),these hospitals are supposed to reserve 10 per cent of their beds and facilities for BPL families and provide them medical treatment free-of-cost. Additionally,it has to reserve 10 per cent beds and facilities for the economically weaker sections and provide treatment at concessional rate.

Leader of opposition in the council Vinod Tawde said BPL patients are expected to get free treatment but this is never practiced.

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“We have sent the other hospitals a notice and will soon undertake another round of inspections through a separate committee. If hospitals are still flouting norms,action will be taken against them,” said Shetty.

Chief secretary Jayantkumar Banthia said hospitals that are unwilling to reserve facilities for the poor should not call themselves ‘charitable hospitals’. “We have brought the matter to the notice of the Charity Commissioner’s Office,” said Banthia.