Government hospitals have to treat patients irrespective of residence
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Government hospitals have to treat patients irrespective of residence; they can't insist on voter ID. HC
When Justice Prathiba M.
Singh heard a petition from a citizen of Bihar who claimed the city
government-run Lok Nayak Hospital only offered free MRI test services to Delhi
residents, she declared hospitals cannot refuse treatment to anyone traveling
from outside their borders.
The Delhi High Court stated
on Tuesday that government hospitals in the nation's capital must give medical
care to all people regardless of the patient's location of residence and that
they cannot need "voter ID."
When Justice Prathiba M.
Singh heard a petition from a citizen of Bihar who claimed the city
government-run Lok Nayak Hospital only offered free MRI test services to Delhi
residents, she declared hospitals cannot refuse treatment to anyone traveling
from outside their borders.
The Delhi government
confirmed that, contrary to what the petitioner claimed, the hospital did not
discriminate against patients based on where they lived. In this case, they
(the hospital) cannot demand voter identification.
The court ruled that you
cannot bar citizens from other countries from visiting hospitals in Delhi,
including AIIMS.
The court continued,
"A study of this court's decision makes it very evident that, as far as
medical care is concerned, the care must be offered to all people without any
consideration as to their place of residence."
The dates for the MRI were
provided according to the status of availability, the Delhi government's
attorney, Satyakam, claimed, adding that there was no evidence to support the
claim that the petitioner was asked to provide his voter ID.
Additionally, he stated
that an MRI scan of the petitioner's left knee would be performed. The Delhi
government's position was noted by the court, and it was ordered that the
petitioner's MRI be performed on December 26 at 11 a.m.
The patient, who was
represented by attorney Ashok Agarwal, said the hospital used a "biased
approach" toward people who did not reside in Delhi. As a result, the
hospital scheduled the patient's MRI of his knee for July 2024.
Despite the fact that all
state-funded hospitals are required to treat anyone who comes to them for free,
the petitioner alleged that in the hospital in question, those with Delhi voter
ID cards received "rapid treatment" while others were given "extended
dates for check-ups."
Because the petitioner
lives in Bihar and not Delhi, the respondent hospital has set a date of July
15, 2024, for the MRI (left knee) test. The petition asserted that it was
done in accordance with the respondent government of the NCT of Delhi's written
or unwritten policy. According to the petition, the petitioner returned to the
hospital's OPD on November 21 and December 5, 2022, bringing his X-ray report
with him. The doctor suggested he get an MRI of the knee done outside of the hospital
after requesting the results.
"The doctor further
said that only Delhi residents who have voter ID cards are eligible for free
MRI tests, and everyone else must pay for the procedure, according to the
appeal." It claimed that the hospital's actions were "completely
arbitrary, discriminatory, without legal justification, and in violation of the
Indian Constitution."
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