"The biggest benefit is that a common man can check the details about the hospitals online," said SB Savale, charity commissioner.
Soon, it will be possible for poor patients to get information about beds reserved for weaker sections in charitable hospitals. The office of the charity commissioner, Maharashtra, has launched a new website (https://charity.maharashtra.gov.in) which will give the needed details.
"The biggest benefit is that a common man can check the details about the hospitals online," said SB Savale, charity commissioner.
According to the Bombay high court's scheme, charitable hospitals shall reserve 10% of operational beds for indigent patients (annual income of up to Rs 50,000) and provide treatment free of cost. They are also to earmark 10% operational beds for patients from weaker sections (income limit of Rs 1 lakh) at concessional rates.
The hospitals must create an indigent patient fund (IPF) to which 2% of the gross billing of paying patients (sans deductions) and donations for treating poor patients must be credited. This must be used for treating indigent and weaker section patients. In return, these hospitals get benefits, like in income tax.
State has around 368 charitable hospitals (including 79 in Mumbai) with around 40,000 beds.
"There were problems in implementing the scheme. Patients had no information about whether a particular hospital had vacant beds for them," said Savale, adding that the website will bridge this gap. It will also be easy for them to monitor the functioning of the scheme.
The website has names and locations of hospitals, authorised person, contact numbers, bed information, beds reserved for weaker sections, hospital departments and specialities. This can be viewed online or received via SMS or email.
"We will be able to collect data through the website, examine it, issue notices and lodge criminal cases in case of any wrongdoing or if no information has been given," he said.
Savale said chief minister Devendra Fadnavis had been requested to create a special post for an officer to monitor all the trust hospitals once a month and check if the information is correct. A documentary for publicising the scheme has also been prepared and will be aired during the Ganesh utsav in cinema halls and BEST buses.
The scheme benefits the poor as unlike the Rajiv Gandhi Jeevandayee Arogya Yojana (RGJAY) and the chief minister's relief fund, there is no ceiling on the aid received.
"We can also act against defaulting trusts," said Savale, adding that this could see criminal cases being filed and them being asked to donate 2% of their income to the public fund like other trusts. "We have not been harsh, we are trying to ensure the implementation of the scheme amicably," he said, adding that nine hospitals in Mumbai and three in Pune had been sent notices.
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