New Delhi: Supreme Court has asked Delhi govt to furnish details of all hospitals that have availed govt grants or benefits but failed to provide free treatment to a percentage of poor citizens as required in the lease agreement.
The application has been moved in the pending proceedings arising out of Supreme Court’s 2018 judgment where the court is monitoring hospitals in the national capital for their commitment to free treatment for poor patients. In its July 9, 2018 judgment, the top court had upheld the requirement that hospitals allotted govt land at concessional rates provide free treatment to at least 25% of OPD patients and 10% of IPD patients belonging to economically weaker sections. It claimed that ILBS received about Rs 800 crore in govt funding over the years and yet it was not fulfilling its obligations.
The bench recorded in its order that a plea has been filed by one Rahul Raj alleging that ILBS has failed to comply with the orders passed by SC earlier and notice of these proceedings has never been sent to the said hospital. Raj has sought directions “against ILBS to comply with the binding judgment of this court dated July 9, 2018, which mandates all hospitals allotted govt land at concessional rates to provide a minimum of 10% inpatient department (IPD) and 25% outpatient department (OPD) free medical treatment to economically weaker sections of society”. The fresh plea said that ILBS falls within the scope of the judgment as it was established by Delhi govt, which allotted land and provided substantial financial support from the public exchequer.
The apex court also made Institute of Liver and Biliary Sciences (ILBS) a party to the proceedings and issued it a notice, after a plea sought directions to ensure it also complies with the mandate on free treatment for economically weaker sections (EWS). The applicant has also raised allegations arising from the treatment of his mother, who died at ILBS.