With increasing concern over denial of treatment to the poor or their harassment by corporate and private hospitals, the State Government on Saturday issued an ultimatum to the institutions warning them of strong action.
The corporate and private hospitals are obliged to provide free treatment to poor patients to the tune of 25 per cent of their OPD attendance while 10 pc of the beds should be reserved for BPL patients.
However, these norms are being blatantly violated. Such institutions, found to be flouting the rules, will be blacklisted and action initiated against them, Health Minister Prasanna Acharya said. The Government has also decided to accord referral status to around 10 private hospitals in the State and four each in Visakhapatnam and Raipur for treatment of BPL category patients.
Acharya said the hospitals are bound by the conditions, imposed by the State Government, to provide free treatment to the poor. The Supreme Court has also recently made observations on strict implementation of 10 pc-bed norm for BPL patients in private hospitals.
“This will be applicable to all poor patients irrespective of the fact that they are covered under Rashtriya Swasthya Vima Yojana (RSVY) or not. All private hospitals whether they have availed of Government land on concessionary rates or not will have to abide by the norms,” the minister said.
The hospitals, gaining referral status, have been warned against harassing BPL patients. After exhausting the RSVY coverage amount, if required, more would be provided from the Orissa State Treatment Fund (OSTF). The bills would have to be sent to the DMET for reimbursement. The treatment charges and bills would have to be in accordance with the CGHS rates.
Besides, the hospitals cannot turn away poor patients in emergency cases, bearing all cost of the treatment from the corporate funds. A detailed guideline is being prepared for ensuring proper treatment and services to poor patients in the private hospitals, Health Secretary PK Mohapatra said.
Comments
0 comment