Nawanshahr:- Punjab State and Chandigarh (UT) Human Rights Commission member Padma Shri Jatinder Singh Shanti today held an open camp at the District Administrative Complex of Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar. He reiterated that the Commission is fully committed to protecting the human rights of citizens and upholding the constitutional guarantees. He said that the Commission has issued new instructions to protect human rights.
He said that no hospital can refuse to hand over the body of a deceased person to the family members in case of outstanding bills. While issuing instructions, he said that the hospital will hand over the body to the family without any delay after taking a self-declaration from the family. He said that if a patient is unable to pay the expenses incurred on treatment, the hospital will allow the patient to go home after taking a bank cheque or affidavit.
He also said that it is mandatory that the hospitals should transport the dead body to the house of the deceased. He said that it is mandatory to have a morgue and an ambulance in every 10-bed hospital. In another guideline, the Commission has directed the officials of the Municipal Corporations that those who cannot afford the cost of cremation should be provided with cremation facilities by the authorities without any cost.
He said that the Commission has issued instructions that the ambulance taking the patient in critical condition by contacting the number 112 will be assisted by the nearest PCR team or police station vehicle so that the patient can be taken to the hospital in a smooth manner.
Presiding over a meeting with senior officials of the district administration and police department and representatives of NGOs at the District Administrative Complex, Jatinder Singh Shanti said that the primary priority of the Commission is to protect the rights of every citizen as per the Constitution.
Stressing the need to ensure the safety and welfare of sanitation workers, he said that contractors and firms should definitely provide insurance facility and along with this, they should also ensure the availability of safety equipment like caps, boots, sanitizers and other items. Jatinder Singh Shanti said that the Commissioner has issued a helpline number 98554-75547 to provide information about any case of human rights violation. He said that if there is any violation of human rights anywhere, a written complaint can be made on the said WhatsApp number of the Commissioner or on the website https://www.pshrc.net, on which necessary action will be taken within a few days.