Rajasthan: Hospitals not taking government facilities will be out of RTH, agreement between doctors and government, private hospitals will open from 8 am tomorrow
In Rajasthan’s Jaipur, today an agreement has been reached between the doctors and the government on 8 demands on the Right to Health (RTH) Bill. The decision was taken after a meeting with Chief Secretary Usha Sharma.
Secretary Private Hospitals and Nursing Homes Society Dr. Vijay Kapoor told that today at around 10.30 a delegation of doctors had reached his residence for talks with the Chief Secretary. The government has accepted our demands. We are satisfied with the draft of the government. Treatment of patients will start in all private hospitals from 8 am on Wednesday.
Before the agreement, the doctors took out a big rally today. This was the second show of strength by the doctors in the last 10 days. Earlier on March 27, a big rally was also taken out in Jaipur. After this rally, the doctors’ delegation met the Chief Secretary and announced to end their agitation.
Agreement was reached on these 8 points:
1. Private multi specialty hospitals with less than 50 beds have been excluded from RTH.
2. All private hospitals established without any facilities from the government and building on subsidized rates will also be kept out of the RTH Act.
3. These hospitals will come under the ambit of RTH-
▪️Private Medical College Hospital
▪️Hospital built on PPP mode
▪️Hospitals established after taking land from the government free of cost or at concessional rates (per their contract terms)
▪️Hospitals run by trusts (funded by the government in the form of land and building)
4. It will be considered to regularize the hospitals built at different places of Rajasthan on the basis of quota model
5. Police cases and other cases registered during the movement will be withdrawn
6. There will be a single window system for licenses and other approvals for hospitals
7. Fire NOC will be renewed every 5 years
8. Any further changes to the rules will be made after consultation with two representatives of IMA
After the agreement, Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot tweeted- I am happy that the government and the doctors have finally agreed on Right to Health and Rajasthan has become the first state in the country to implement Right to Health. Patient relationship will remain as before.
मुझे प्रसन्नता है कि राइट टू हेल्थ पर सरकार व डॉक्टर्स के बीच अंततः सहमति बनी एवं राजस्थान राइट टू हेल्थ लागू करने वाला देश का पहला राज्य बना है।
मुझे आशा है कि आगे भी डॉक्टर-पेशेंट रिलेशनशिप पूर्ववत यथावत रहेगी।#RightToHealth
— Ashok Gehlot (@ashokgehlot51) April 4, 2023
Doctors also reached from other states
Teams of doctors from Haryana, Ghaziabad and Uttar Pradesh have also come to join the protest against the Right to Health Bill. These teams of doctors also participated in the rally.
Doctors Rally starting from Residents Hostel Ground SMS Medical College via Gokhale Hostel Road via Tonk Road, Maharani College Tiraha, Ashok Marg, Rajput Sabha Bhavan, Panch Batti, MI Road, SMS Medical College via Ajmeri Gate, New Gate, Albert Hall Arrived.
Purpose of the bill: No one’s treatment should be stopped because of money
The bill is being described as a revolutionary step in the health sector. According to the government, the purpose of the bill is to provide the right to health to every person in the state. That is, no person should be troubled for treatment because of money. Broadly, this bill talks about every person being treated during emergency without fees and without waiting for the police report. If the person is not able to pay the expenses for this, then the government will pay. Apart from this, the bill provides many types of health facilities to the patients.
At what stage is the bill?
At present this bill has been passed by the assembly. The bill is now with the governor after it has been passed by the assembly. The bill will become an Act after the approval of the Governor and after that all its rules will be defined. After that it will be implemented in the state.
10 issues on which doctors are protesting
- Who will define the emergency: Private doctors are largely opposing the bill. However, regarding many issues, government doctors also believe that they will face problems due to this. The biggest deadlock regarding the bill is for emergency services only. Doctors say who will define the emergency. The meaning of emergency can be different for a patient and a doctor. Doctors say that three categories have been made in emergency. These include snack bite, poisoning and road accident. Doctors say that snack bites are not even one percent of total emergencies. Out of those who are there, 95 percent are harmless. Which do not require treatment. On the other hand, regarding road accidents, the doctors believe that according to the bill, if any patient comes in emergency, whether the specialized doctor is there at that time or not, the patient has to be treated and stabilised. If there is no facility then the patient will have to be referred in his ambulance.
- Creating an environment for free treatment of every disease: Doctors say that the bill is still has not even taken the form of law. From now on, the leaders and workers of the government have started making misleading propaganda that with the introduction of this bill, the public is going to get everything in a grand manner. If there is any problem or emergency, then you have the right to go to the nearest private hospital and after getting treatment from there, you can leave, the rest of the government will see. An environment is being created for free treatment of every disease. It is also being said that if there is any complaint regarding the hospital or doctor, then go to the authority, you will be heard. First 10 thousand and then 25 thousand penalty will be imposed.
- The golden hour of the patient will pass: Doctors say that under the bill, people will get this facility in emergency in those government hospitals or designated health centers that the government will choose. In such a situation, if someone has chest pain or heart attack, he will approach the nearest center. If that private hospital does not come in this category, then there will be ruckus and quarrels. There will be debate between the hospital and the patient, due to which the golden hour of treatment will come out. If the patient does not get the right treatment in the initial 2 to 4 hours, then it can be harmful, even life can be lost. Apart from this, it is not necessary that the designated hospital where he reaches should be a specialist doctor.
- Stabilization danger if there is no specialist: Doctors say that this bill says that you do not have the facility, even if there is no specialized doctor, that patient will have to be attended in emergency, he will have to be stabilised. After that the patient should reach safely to the higher center where the facility is available. After not being a specialist doctor, it is also to be seen that the patient does not die and that he is transferred safely. How can a non-gynaecologist treat a pregnancy case? During this, if the patient has any problem, then the responsibility of it will fall on the doctor and the hospital.
- How will a stranger give informed consent: Doctors say that in this bill it has been said that if you are qualified then you will have to take informed consent before starting the treatment of the patient. If a road accident happens and an unknown person picks that person up from the road, then who will give consent? How will an unknown person give informed consent there? In this case, treatment will not be possible, there will be delay. The patient will have to bear the result.
- Common man will not come after reading the bill: Doctors say that the patient-doctor relationship is not good in Rajasthan. Quarrels will increase with this bill, the distance between doctors and patients will increase. An environment is being created that the treatment of every disease will be free. This will lead to fights everyday. The patient will say that give treatment for free. There will be baseless complaints, there will be interference of unnecessary bureaucracy, this will further encourage corruption. Especially the incidents of violence will start increasing.
- Even 3-4 years old money has not been received till now: Private doctors say that the government says that it will give them the money for emergency services. But the money from the government never comes on time. Money is not received from the government for three-four years, half of the money is rejected. First they get the treatment done for free, after that the bill is rejected by raising objections. Whereas it takes years to get half the money.
- How many patients will the doctor be able to see each patient for half an hour: Doctors also say that the rights of the patient have been mentioned in the bill. It says that the doctor will explain each and every thing to the patient. If a doctor took half an hour to explain to a patient, how many patients would he be able to see in a day. In our country, doctors have the same burden of patients. If you do not do this, then under the bill you will be legally guilty. There will be more problems in government hospitals.
- How will a non-clinical person understand the medical process: IMA Rajasthan President Dr. Sunil Chugh says that authorities have been created for complaints and solutions. The MLA-Pradhan was made a member of the Grievance Committee. If there is a complaint against the doctor, then any member of the committee can search and seize by entering his house, clinic. Now doctors have been included but still bureaucrats have been retained.
- Kept in deception again and again, how to accept things will be accepted: Dr. Chugh says that if the intention of the government was clear then what would be the problem in giving the minutes of the meeting. The behavior of the Health Minister is also not good. The CM spoke well, but when we have been cheated again and again, how can we believe that the government will change the rules according to us.What are their objections to the bill?
Dr. Kapoor: The government is paying a consultation fee of Rs.135 to a super specialty doctor with 20-25 years of experience under the Chiranjeevi Yojana. Even a plumber will not be available for Rs.135. At Chiranjeevi, we are providing quality service. The doctor needs a complete infrastructure, equipment, staff, many more. We have to run our families along with service. Ministers, leaders are getting 5-5 pension, give us half the salary that bureaucrats are getting, take our hospitals, we are ready to serve 24 hours.Why protest at the cost of people’s lives?
Dr. Kapoor: Water cannons, beatings with female doctors, even louse is not crawling on the ears of the government. What can be the way that we can adopt. Doctors also have problems. Dohiti of our core committee member Dr. Ramdev died, his dohiti was treated
