New Delhi, Jun 5 (UNI) The Supreme Court on Friday asked private hospitals, which were given land free of cost by the government, whether they are ready to provide treatment to Covid-19 patients at the subsidised rates offered under the Ayushman Bharat scheme.
A Bench led by Chief Justice of India (CJI) Sharad A. Bobde heard petitioner-advocate Sachin Jain seeking free treatment of Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) patients in private hospitals.
"We are not going to pass orders against all private hospitals. But the charitable hospitals which are built on free government land have to provide free treatment of it had taken land at a nominal price," the Apex Court said.
The CJI said, there is an earlier judgment of Justice (retired) R M Lodha that says these hospitals should treat certain number of patients for free. Why can’t these hospitals treat a certain number of patients for free?
Senior advocate, Harish Salve, appearing for healthcare commission, said, we are complying with this order.
"Charitable hospitals must do some service to the society if they have got land for free," says CJI.
The Supreme Court today sought a detailed reply from some private hospital organisations, and fixed the matter for further hearing after two weeks.
On the other hand, private hospitals claimed that they have already been treating 25 per cent patients free.
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