New Delhi: Private hospital doctors in Rajasthan took to the streets in a massive protest against the state government's 'Right to Health Bill', which gives people the right to free emergency treatment at all government hospitals and privately-run establishments. The Bill, which was tabled in the state assembly by health minister Prasadi Lal Meena, was passed by voice vote on Tuesday.


The Rajasthan police baton-charged and used water cannons on the protestors to disperse them as they were marching towards the Rajasthan Assembly on Tuesday, where the Budget session was underway, to force the government to take back the Right to Health Bill.


Around 2,500 private hospital operators across the state participated in the protest.




Rajasthan Health Minister told ANI on Wednesday, "We accepted all the demands of the doctors. Govt did what the doctors said. The bill was passed unanimously in the Assembly. We are appealing to the doctors to end their protest & return to work."









 

What does the Bill say?


The bill gives every resident of the state the right to avail free outdoor and indoor patient department services, medicines, and diagnostics at all public health facilities and select private healthcare facilities. 


Also, according to the bill, all residents will be entitled to emergency treatment and care "without prepayment of requisite fee or charges" by any public health institution, health care establishments and designated health care centres.


The Bill further states that no healthcare provider shall delay treatment merely on the grounds of receiving police clearance or a police report.


After emergency care, stabilisation, and referral of the patient, if they do not pay the requisite charges, the government will reimburse the health care provider, the Bill said.


According to the government, the Bill intends “to provide protection and fulfilment of rights and equity in health and well-being under Article 47 (Duty of the state to raise the level of nutrition and the standard of living and to improve public health) of Constitution of India and to secure the Right to Health as per the expanded definition of Article 21 (Protection of life and personal liberty)”.





The bill was introduced in September but sent to the select committee. The committee submitted its report and the bill was amended accordingly. The amended bill was passed on Tuesday.


Why are doctors protesting?


Members of the Private Hospitals and Nursing Home Society and the United Private Clinics and Hospitals of Rajasthan stopped services on Saturday night after responding to a call for a strike by the Sanyukt Sangharsh Samiti, news agency PTI reported.


"The protesting doctors said the proposed bill would gradually eliminate private hospitals, take away from doctors the right to earn livelihood and deprive the public from round-the-clock medical and health facility," as per Dr. Kewal Krishan Dang of a private hospital, quoted by PTI.


Dr. Vijay Kapoor, secretary of the Private Hospitals and Nursing Home Society, stated that "This is an indefinite statewide 'bandh' and it will continue until the government withdraws the bill."


The closure of private facilities led to a 40 per cent rise in the patient load in the government-run MBS Hospital in Kota as around 300 private hospitals, clinics and nursing homes in Kota remained shut for outdoor patients, emergency services, and fresh admissions.