On Tuesday, Rajasthan became the first state to pass in Assembly the Right to Health Bill.
This Bill would mean that every resident of the state shall now have a right to avail free Out Patient Department (OPD) services and In Patient Department (IPD) services at all public health facilities.
Similar healthcare services will be provided free of cost at select private facilities.
Right to Health Bill Passed Despite Opposition
All was not hunky dory while passing this bill as it faced quite a lot of opposition from BJP, which wanted to bring in certain changes to the provisions, as well as an agitation by a section of doctors, who have been demanding withdrawal of the legislation.
As per the Bill, subject to conditions specified in the rules, services like consultation, drugs, diagnostics, emergency transport, procedure and emergency care shall be provided at all the public health institutions and select private facilities.
Without the prepayment of any fees or charges, all residents will be entitled to emergency treatment and care for accidental emergency.
No Delay in Treatment of Cases of Medico-Legal Nature
Now on, in any medico-legal case, the treatment cannot be delayed by any public or private hospital merely on the grounds of receiving police clearance.
It said that “after emergency care, stabilisation and transfer of patient, if patient does not pay requisite charges, the healthcare provider shall be entitled to receive requisite fee and charges or proper reimbursement from the state government”.
The law extends a total of 20 rights to the residents of the state.
As per the government, the Bill intends “to provide protection and fulfilment of rights and equity in health and well-being under Article 47 (Duty of the state to raise the level of nutrition and the standard of living and to improve public health) of Constitution of India and to secure the Right to Health as per the expanded definition of Article 21 (Protection of life and personal liberty)”.
