Right to Health Bill: Rajasthan govt, protesting doctors reach consensus; protests to be called off

Right to Health Bill: Rajasthan govt, protesting doctors reach consensus; protests to be called off

The Right to Health Bill proposes the right to emergency treatment and care without prepayment at any "public health institution, healthcare establishment and designated healthcare centre."

Business Today Desk
Business Today Desk
  • Updated Apr 4, 2023 4:08 PM IST
Right to Health Bill: Rajasthan govt, protesting doctors reach consensus; protests to be called offRajasthan govt and protesting doctors reach consensus on RTH Bill

The Rajasthan government and the doctors protesting over the Right to Health (RTH) Bill reached a consensus on Tuesday. The government agreed to keep private hospitals, that have not taken land or any other benefits at subsidised rates from it, outside the ambit of the proposed legislation. 

The bill proposes the right to emergency treatment and care without prepayment at any "public health institution, healthcare establishment and designated healthcare centre".

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Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, confirming the development in a tweet, said in Hindi: "I am happy that finally an agreement has been reached between the government and the doctors on Right to Health, and Rajasthan has become the first state in the country to implement Right to Health. I hope that the doctor-patient relationship will remain the same in future as well.”

The government held talks with a delegation of doctors before reaching a consensus. The delegation included members of the Indian Medical Association (IMA), the Private Hospitals and Nursing Homes Association and the United Private Clinics and Hospitals Association (UPCHAR). 

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The doctors had demanded that private hospitals that did not take any benefit from the government in the form of land or buildings at subsidised rates should be outside the ambit of the RTH Bill. 

Secretary of the Private Hospitals and Nursing Homes Society Dr Vijay Kapoor said that the private sector has completely been freed from the RTH Bill. "The government will implement it from its resources and institutions. We have converted our rally into a 'Vijay Rally' and will hold a general body meeting to call off the agitation formally," said the doctor. 

Medical services were crippled in the state after government doctors and faculty members went on a strike against the bill. While emergency services were exempted from the strike, general patients were reported to have faced a lot of trouble in getting treatment. 

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The state had warned the doctors and government staffers against going on leave without approval. 

Also read: Govt researching link between recent spate of heart attacks and COVID-19: Health minister Mansukh Mandaviya

Published on: Apr 4, 2023 4:07 PM IST
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