Question : Treatment by Private Hospitals

Will the Minister of HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE be pleased to state:

(a) whether any proposal for providing free treatment to the poor/farmers and the common man in emergency is under consideration of the Government, if so, the details thereof;

(b) whether the Government has any mechanism to ensure provision of free treatment to poor by the private hospitals and also for dealing with any irregularities of the private hospitals in this regard; and

(c) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND
FAMILY WELFARE
(SMT. ANUPRIYA PATEL)
(a) to (c): Since Health is a State subject, it is the responsibility of the State Government to regulate hospitals including private hospitals in their States as per provisions of the Act and rules applicable in the States to provide affordable treatment to patients.

The Ministry of Health & Family Welfare is implementing Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojna (RSBY). Under this scheme, both public and private hospitals are empanelled. It is a centrally sponsored scheme to provide health insurance to Below Poverty Line (BPL) families and 11 other defined categories of Unorganized Workers. Farmers, as a separate category, are not covered under RSBY. Those farmers who have been enrolled under RSBY under any of these categories are entitled for benefits under this scheme. Further, as per provisions of the Clinical Establishments (Registration and Regulation) Act, 2010, one of the conditions of registration of clinical establishments is that every clinical establishment is required to provide treatment “within the staff and facilities available” to stabilize the emergency medical condition of any individual, who comes or is brought to such clinical establishment. The Act is, however, applicable in ten States and all Union Territories (UTs) except Delhi.