Government to provide subsidised medicines at Apollo Hospitals

NEW DELHI: The Delhi government will provide subsidised medicines and consumables at a government pharmacy at Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals for poor patients.

The state government has a 26% equity share in Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals, in lieu of which the hospital has to provide 239 free beds — 33% of its bed strength — to poor patients.

Though Apollo provides free beds and services, it charges for medicines and other consumables.

“The bed occupancy percentage at Apollo hospital for EWS (economically weaker sections) is around 10 per cent, because patients can’t afford medicines and consumables. The government now will provide 80% discount on drugs and consumables through government-run pharmacies within the hospital,” said Delhi health minister Satyender Jain.

Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals did not comment, saying they hadn’t received a copy of the order.

Apollo had earlier challenged a 2009 Delhi HC order in the Supreme Court that it should provide consumables and medicines free. An interim order of the Supreme Court in 2009 said patients should bear expenses of medicines and consumables.

“Following the interim order, the occupancy at the hospital went down drastically. The government has agreed to bear 80% cost for the consumables and medicines for poor patients,” said Ashok Agarwal, member, EWS Patients Monitoring Committee.

In Delhi, 41 hospitals have to provide free treatment to EWS patients, which include 623 beds.

“The current bed occupancy across private hospitals in Delhi is 30-35%. All the hospitals must ensure 90% occupancy in EWScategory and anyone going below 80% will be penalised,” said Jain.

“We will appoint 85 patient welfare officers in hospitals to facilitate services to the poor patients,” Jain said.