Specific hospitals will add ‘charitable’ to their names

MUMBAI: Most hospitals run by charity trusts, including majority of the city’s private medical centres, have agreed to use ‘charitable’ in their names, said Dr PM Bhujang, president of Association of Hospitals, an organisation that coordinates activities of charitable hospitals in the state.

The decision comes in the wake of order issued by the state charity commissioner in July.

As per Bombay Public Trust Act, charitable hospitals are supposed to reserve 20% beds for underprivileged patients and provide healthcare at concessional rates. There are 78 charitable hospitals in Mumbai and 430 across Maharashtra.

Hospitals get tax exemptions and other concessions if they are managed by charitable trusts.

Patients with an annual income of less than Rs 85,000 are eligible for free treatment at these hospitals. Those earning below ₹1.60 lakh per annum are eligible for 50% concession. “We observed that beds reserved for poor patients were mostly going vacant because people are not aware that these are charitable hospitals,” said Shivkumar Dighe, charity commissioner.

He added if patients see the word ‘charitable’, they will avail benefits. “We have provisions under the Bombay Public Trust Act to remove trustees from the board,” said Dighe. HT contacted three charitable hospitals, but they refused to comment.