JOIN US In its latest move to make healthcare more accessible to poor patients, the Delhi government has authorised its dispensaries to refer patients from economically weaker sections for free treatment in identified private hospitals.
So far, only government hospitals were authorised to do so.
The order by the directorate of health services (DHS), Delhi government, says the medical officer in-charge of the concerned dispensary would be nominated as the nodal officers for referral of EWS patients.
The officer will also be responsible for compiling and sending the monthly and quarterly reports to the concerned chief district medical officer (CDMO) for further transmission to nursing home cell of the directorate.
“We expanded the scope because not many patients from government hospitals go to private hospitals under EWS category,” said Dr NV Kamat, director, health services, DHS. This means many beds remain unused under the category.
He said most patients go to local dispensaries and prefer a hospital nearby for treatment.
Dispensaries have only outpatient departments (OPDs). This order will let them send serious patients who need admission, to private hospitals that admit patients in the EWS category, said advocate Ashok Agarwal.
He is member of the monitoring committee established by the Delhi High Court to look into matters of EWS patients going to the private hospitals.,
According to an order dated September 1, 2011 of the Supreme Court and judgement dated July 17, 2007 of the Delhi High Court, private hospitals which have received land on subsidised rates have to extend 25 per cent of OPD services and 10 per cent inpatient department beds to EWS patients.
The government has identified 43 such hospitals in the city.