They were fined for refusing free treatment to the poor, which was the prime condition for land allotment lease
The five private hospitals, which were fined more than Rs 600 crore by the Delhi government a year ago, are yet to pay the amount. They were fined for refusing free treatment to the poor, which was the prime condition for land allotment lease.
The AAP-led government in 2016 had slapped the fine on five hospitals— Max Super Speciality Hospital (Saket), Fortis Escorts Heart Institute, Shanti Mukand Hospital, Dharamshila Cancer Hospital and Pushpawati Singhania Research Institute. These hospitals were provided land at concessional rates between 1960 and 1990 on the condition that they will treat the poor free of cost.
"These five hospitals were given a chance to explain their stand." We are hearing their reasons.
Three hospitals have gone through the process. The hearing for the other two will take place in the coming week. If at fault, none of them will be spared," said Dr Kirti Bhushan, Director General of Health Services (DGHS), Delhi government.
A total of 43 private hospitals in Delhi were allotted land at concessional rates on the condition that they will keep 10 per cent of their in-patient department capacity and 25 per cent of out-patient department capacity to treat economically weaker patients for free. The penalty was imposed on the basis of a high court order passed in 2007 on a PIL demanding implementation of the provision of free treatment to poor and action against the erring hospitals.
"The matter relates to an erroneous demand of Rs 32 crore from Max Hospital, East Block, Saket. This is presently sub-judice. The Hon'ble High Court of Delhi has stayed proceedings and has directed a Special Committee constituted for this purpose to hear the reasons of the concerned hospitals. The hearings continue," a spokesperson from Max Healthcare said. There were no response from Fortis Healthcare on the matter.
The government had in December 2015, sent notices to these hospitals seeking an explanation as to why they failed to treat the poor and why they should not be fined. None of them had satisfactory replies so action was initiated against them.
According to sources, top officers in the Delhi government have been pulled up for not taking any decision in the matter. "The officials are sitting on it and no decision has been taken on collecting the fine," said another health official.
"We have been called by the government regularly but they have not taken any decision," said Dr S Khanna, president, Dharamshila Cancer Foundation.
Recently, the Comptroller Auditor General (CAG), who was preparing the audit report, had also pulled up the health department for failing in recover the fine. The auditor had then questioned the department for the delay. The special committee, appointed to look into the affairs of the hospitals as per a high court order of 2007, had imposed a fine of over Rs 32 crore on Max, Rs 36.30 on Shanti Mukand, Rs 10.6 on Pushpawati Singhania, over Rs 100 crore on Fortis and Rs 17.86 crore on Dharamshila.
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