Industries minister Narayan Rane on Thursday promised that the state would diligently implement the Bombay high court order making it mandatory for private hospitals to spend two per cent of their profit to treat the poor and needy. The state, as per the order, will also reserve 10 per cent of beds for the poor in all hospitals. Mr Rane assured the Lower House that if there were any irregularities in implementing the order, the state would take action within three months.
The issue was raised in the Assembly with Opposition MLAs alleging that most private hospitals, especially 5-star ones, are ignoring the HC order, and that the charity commissioner did not have the infrastructure to monitor the implementation of the rules at all hospitals.
In reply, minister of state Bhaskar Jadhav said it was wrong to say that the HC order was not being implemented. “In fact, some big hospitals like Jaslok, Breach Candy, Lilawati, etc actually spend more than the two per cent on the poor. They are demanding reimbursement of this extra amount, but the arrears have not been cleared for more than six months. The issue is now pending with the charity commissioner,” he said, adding that the rules to solve such situations need to be amended.