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Delhi government forms top panel to monitor erring private hospitals

The decision was taken following a series of meetings by the Health Minister with various professional and regulatory organisations representing doctors working in various medical institutions across Delhi.

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The Delhi government has constituted a nine-member committee to monitor the functioning of private hospitals in the capital.

The move comes days after the government cancelled the licence of Max Hospital in Shalimar Bagh for wrongly declaring a newborn dead. "Over-billing is a massive problem in private hospitals. We are forming a committee including experienced doctors and medical experts, which will provide recommendations," said Delhi Health Minister Satyendra Jain.

The decision was taken following a series of meetings by the Health Minister with various professional and regulatory organisations representing doctors working in various medical institutions across Delhi.

According to officials, the health department has received various complaints against private hospitals about patients being forced to buy medicines on inflated rates and from medical shops from hospitals. The committee will also look into consumables, behaviour protocol of medical staff, issues of Economically Weaker Section (EWS) patients and misdemeanour at hospitals.

"The committee will recommend to the government any suggestions to be considered. Calling this merely a populist measure is disrespecting our effort, like cracking a joke. The attempt is to bring relief to patients suffering and is forced to over pay. Ask a patient suffering at these hospitals if this is merely a populist measure," Jain further said.

The members are from Indian Medical Association (IMA), Delhi Medical Council (DMC) and Delhi Medical Association (DMA). A meeting will be held next week with officials to identify areas where patients are facing trouble.

"Central government has made a national list of essential medicines for up to 400 medicines with capped rate. Experts gave a compiled list. Hospitals must write those medicines in prescription, why are these not mentioned," the minister added.

He concluded, "Hospitals must inform patients ahead of treatment about the amount expected to be spent. We have received complaints that often the final bill is higher than mentioned. How will patients arrange so much money unless informed earlier? These are genuine concerns."

The government is also planning to enforce the Clinical Establishment Act in the city.

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