DELHI GOVT WILL FOOT BILL FOR ACCIDENT, ACID ATTACK CASES

The Delhi govern ment will bear the expenses of treatment in private hospitals to people injured in road acci dents, and victims of burns and acid attacks.

The move is expected to purge the problem of most private hos pitals allegedly turning away accident patients to government hospitals over payment issues

“Our aim is to save as many lives as possible. Precious hours are lost when police commute long distances to take the vic tims to a government hospital,” Delhi health minister Satyen dar Jain said.

The government has selected about 230 private hospitals which have more than 20 beds intensive care units, and are equipped to deal with emer gency cases such as road acci dents and burns.

“Most often private hospitals either don’t admit road accident victims or simply stabilise the patients before sending them off to a government hospital. They do this because they are unsure about who would pay for the treatment. We will,” Jain said.

The scheme will be available from the next two or three days

The government will foot the bill for emergency aid, surgeries and two-week hospital stay in economy or similar budget-cat egory beds and wards.

“If the patient needs to stay in hospital for a longer period, the regional director of health ser vices can extend the benefit,” the health minister said.

The only condition is that the accident should happen within New Delhi.

Private hospitals must pro vide details of all road accident burns and acid attack victims under their care within 12 hours of admitting them.