Chandigarh, October 23:- During Question Hour in the special session of the Punjab Legislative Assembly, AAP MLA from Sahibzada Ajit Singh Nagar (Mohali), Kulwant Singh, raised the issue of free treatment for economically weaker patients in private hospitals allotted land at reserved rates in Mohali.
MLA Kulwant Singh explained that the government had allotted land to private hospitals in Mohali at reserved rates, not market rates. Certain conditions had been imposed on these hospitals, and an allotment letter had also been issued. These conditions included free treatment for yellow-card holders, EWS patients and other economically weaker sections, with 10 per cent of OPD services and 5 per cent of indoor treatment to be provided free of cost. The allotments to these hospitals dated back to the year 2000.
The MLA said that no one had paid attention to this issue or taken steps to ensure that the conditions were implemented. Kulwant Singh asked Punjab Health Minister Dr Balbir Singh whether the government would ensure compliance by private hospitals and ask them how many patients had received free treatment to date. He also asked why free treatment had not been provided if the conditions had not been followed.
Kulwant Singh said that no regulatory authority had been established specifically for these private hospitals. He asked what steps the Punjab government would take to ensure free treatment for economically weaker patients at these hospitals. He also pointed out that, at times, families were not even allowed to take the bodies of deceased relatives because they could not pay hefty hospital bills. He asked whether the government was considering establishing a regulatory authority to address such public grievances.
Responding to MLA Kulwant Singh’s questions, Punjab Health Minister Dr Balbir Singh assured the Assembly that strict action would be taken soon on the information shared by the MLA. He said that regulatory bodies were already in place and were addressing issues as they arose from time to time. The Health Minister added that committees had been constituted at the state and Civil Surgeon levels to resolve the relevant problems.
