No work for govt reps in private hospitals
Officials say hospitals are not cooperating with the representatives, who are supposed to help the poor avail care at concessional rates.
The government and top private charitable hospitals in the city have got into another tangle over the treatment of poor patients, with authorities accusing the healthcare facilities of stonewalling their efforts to make the process more transparent.
Sources in the government said nearly 20 private hospitals, including Breach Candy, Lilavati, Bombay, Nanavati, and Hinduja, are not cooperating with the Dharmday Arogya Sevaks, state-appointed representatives, who have been entrusted with the task of guiding needy patients through paperwork and make them understand their rights.
Sources said the representatives, one for each hospital, were hired in mid-May, but were denied entry to the centres. After a lot of discussion with both parties, Charity Commissioner S B Savale directed the private hospitals to let the representatives work from their premises.
Despite gaining entry, the sources said, the Sevaks haven’t been able to do any work as they have been deprived of a cabin, PC, printer, scanner and other related accessories.
A senior official from health department said, “A Sevak is required to verify income proofs of poor patients, their case papers, crosscheck bed availability and upload details on mahacharity.gov.in. With hospitals not cooperating with them, they are sitting at one of the corner of the hospital for eight hours doing nothing.”
According to the health department, Jaslok on Pedder Road, BSES Hospital in Andheri and Elizabeth Hospital at Malbar Hill have complied with the requirement.
‘Won’t let them interfere with our system’
Dr PM Bhujang, president of Associations of Hospital and medical director of Sir H N Hospital, said they won’t let the Sevaks interfere with their internal systems.
“Whatever information the Sevaks are asking we are providing them. They can verify the papers of poor patients admitted to the hospitals, meet them. We have our own medical social workers who provide all required details to the charity commissioner.”
N Santhanam, CEO of breach candy hospital, said the demand for a cabin is unfair. “Even our own employees do not have cabins. But we have made seating arrangement for the representative. And what’s the point in giving a computer to these Sevaks who are freshers. Also, there is no clarity on their actual role.”
The government and top private charitable hospitals in the city have got into another tangle over the treatment of poor patients, with authorities accusing the healthcare facilities of stonewalling their efforts to make the process more transparent.
Sources in the government said nearly 20 private hospitals, including Breach Candy, Lilavati, Bombay, Nanavati, and Hinduja, are not cooperating with the Dharmday Arogya Sevaks, state-appointed representatives, who have been entrusted with the task of guiding needy patients through paperwork and make them understand their rights.
Under the Bombay Public Trusts Act, 20 per cent of beds at private charitable hospitals that enjoy several concessions by the government are reserved for poor patients.
Sources said the representatives, one for each hospital, were hired in mid-May, but were denied entry to the centres. After a lot of discussion with both parties, Charity Commissioner S B Savale directed the private hospitals to let the representatives work from their premises.
Despite gaining entry, the sources said, the Sevaks haven’t been able to do any work as they have been deprived of a cabin, PC, printer, scanner and other related accessories.
A senior official from health department said, “A Sevak is required to verify income proofs of poor patients, their case papers, crosscheck bed availability and upload details on mahacharity.gov.in. With hospitals not cooperating with them, they are sitting at one of the corner of the hospital for eight hours doing nothing.”
According to the health department, Jaslok on Pedder Road, BSES Hospital in Andheri and Elizabeth Hospital at Malbar Hill have complied with the requirement.
‘Won’t let them interfere with our system’
Dr PM Bhujang, president of Associations of Hospital and medical director of Sir H N Hospital, said they won’t let the Sevaks interfere with their internal systems.
“Whatever information the Sevaks are asking we are providing them. They can verify the papers of poor patients admitted to the hospitals, meet them. We have our own medical social workers who provide all required details to the charity commissioner.”
N Santhanam, CEO of breach candy hospital, said the demand for a cabin is unfair. “Even our own employees do not have cabins. But we have made seating arrangement for the representative. And what’s the point in giving a computer to these Sevaks who are freshers. Also, there is no clarity on their actual role.”
