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Apollo Hospital has been ordered by the Delhi High Court to provide the poor patients with free treatment. A fine of Rs. 200,000 has also been imposed on the Hospital and the Delhi government for violating the court orders earlier.
Adivision bench comprising Chief Justice Ajit Prakash Shah and Justice Manmohan has ordered the hospital for reserving 33% in-house beds and 40% OPD for the poor patients.
"Health right is a fundamental right and no one should be devoid of this," the court said while hearing the 12-year-old legal battle.
The court has also restricted the hospital from levying any sort of charges from the poor, even for any tests.
The court was hearing a petition filed by an NGO seeking action against the hospital for taking money from poor patients, in contravention of the lease agreement for land allotted to it by the government at concessional rates.
The Delhi government has been asked to provide the government hospitals with a special referral centre so that the poor patients can opt for the private hospitals for a better and free treatment.
Besides, the government has been asked to appoint a nodal officer of the rank of medical superintendent to monitor the treatment given to poor patients.
