Can't expect poor patients to give proof for free treatment: HC

Bombay High Court observed that COVID-19 patients from poor and indigent sections cant be expected to produce documentary proof to avail subsidised or free treatment while getting mitted to hospitals.

court on Friday was hearing a plea filed by seven residents of a slum rehabilitation building in Bandra, who h been charged Rs 12.5 lakh by K J Somaiya Hospital for COVID-19 treatment between April 11 and April 28.

bench of Justices Ramesh Dhanuka and Mhav Jamdar directed hospital to deposit Rs 10 lakh in court.

petitioners h borrowed money and mand to pay Rs 10 lakh out of Rs 12.5 lakh that hospital h demanded, after threatening to halt ir discharge if y failed to clear bill, counsel Vivek Shukla informed court.

According to plea, petitioners were also overcharged for PPE kits and unused services.

On June 13, court h directed state charity commissioner to probe if hospital h reserved 20 per cent beds for poor and indigent patients and provided free or subsidised treatment to m.

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Last week, joint charity commissioner h informed court that although hospital h reserved such beds, it h treated only three poor or indigent persons since lockdown.

It was unfathomable that hospital that claimed to have reserved 90 beds for poor and indigent patients h treated only three such persons during pandemic, vocate Shukla said.

He furr argued that COVID-19 patients, who are in distress, cant be expected to produce income certificate and such documents as proof.

However, senior vocate Janak Dwarkas, who represented hospital, said petitioners did t belong to ecomically weak or indigent categories and h t produced documents to prove same.

A person who is suffering from a disease like COVID-19 cant be expected to produce certificates from a tehsildar or social welfare officer before seeking mission in hospital, bench ted and asked hospital to deposit Rs 10 lakh in court within two weeks.

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