Delhi govt's decision to cancel hospital licence irrational: DMA

The Delhi Medical Association (DMA) on Saturday termed the city government's decision to cancel the licence of Max Super Specialty Hospital over wrong declaration of an alive baby dead as "irrational and autocratic".

The doctors' body said that the government should have waited for its report on the issue which is expected in a few days.

The association said it will give a call for a strike if needed and will appeal to the government to revoke the licence cancellation decision.

"Cancelling the licence and the decision to shut the entire hospital is irrational and autocratic. Private hospitals bear 80% of the patient's burden in Delhi. Investigation against the concerned doctors or staff is expected but why should all other departments and the hospital suffer," DMA's Ashwini Goyal said.

In the licence cancellation order, which came after a three-member panel submitted a report to Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain, the government has stopped the hospital from admitting any new patient and put a stop to all outpatient treatment services and laboratory testing on its premises with immediate effect.

The IMA termed the cancellation of the licence "too harsh a step". It backed the hospital and said if all hospitals start facing similar situations where patients die due to such mistakes, then healthcare will come to a halt.