HC: Follow Delhi model to treat poor

Noticing several reports of private hospitals fleecing Covid-19 patients, the Telangana High Court on Thursday directed the state government to consider the possibility of replicating the Delhi model where the government ordered private hospitals with 50 or more beds, that had taken land from it, to reserve at least 20 per cent of beds for poor patients and provide free treatment.

The HC directed Chief Secretary Somesh Kumar, who appeared along with his colleagues via videoconferencing, to submit a report on the number of poor patients who got free treatment in private hospitals.

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The bench also directed government to report to the court if it was facing difficulty in replicating the Delhi model.

A division bench comprising Chief Justice Raghavendra Singh Chauhan and Justice B. Vijaysen Reddy issued the direction while hearing 18 PILs on Covid-19 testing, excessive billing by private hospitals, lack of infrastructure in government notified hospitals and other issues.

Chief Justice Chauhan observed: “it seems that private hospitals are more powerful than the government. The government is making a lot of sound on taking steps against the hospitals for excessive billing. But, except the noise, it seems nothing has been done.”

Referring to health minister Etala Rajendar’s statement that the 50 per cent of beds in private hospitals will be taken if complaints of excessive billing continue, the bench said: “We have been observing such statements but no action was initiated.”

The court quoting from the government affidavit said it had received complaints of excessive billing from 50 private hospitals but notices had been issued to 46 and response received from 16. “The remaining 30 hospitals are silent. Still no stringent action was taken, except against two hospitals,” the court said.

Hinting at tough action, the Chief Justice said: “The government should ensure that the GOs issued on capping the prices should be complied with by the private hospitals. In case any private hospital continues to defy the GOs, the government shall be free to take drastic action. We hope that government will take action in that line. This is a polite way of cautioning by the court.”

The court pointed out the grievance over nonavailability of hearses to transport the bodies of Covid-19 patients. The government said 61 hearses had been arranged.

Regarding action on private hospitals, the Chief Secretary said the government was given them a chance to reply. Regarding the hearses, he said that families need to call the helpline number 104.

Kumar said the state machinery, doctors and bureaucrats, were working 24x7. “Most of our officials are deprived of sleep, having tremendous workload and exposed to Coronavirus,” he said. He added that they had to furnish information for Central teams arriving at short notice, as well as videoconference held by the Prime Minister, besides to advocates in court cases.

Responding to this, Justice Vijaysen Reddy, said “Some family members of this bench and judges are also working on Covid-19 duties and we are aware of their difficulties. Don’t think that the court is calling you without knowing the difficulties of the officers. All efforts of the court are to ensure the right to life and right to have medical facilities for the people.”

Justice Chauhan said the Chief Secretary and the government should not be take it as criticism by the court. “This court certainly appreciates not only the efforts made by the officials,” he said.