We are not looteras: Private hospitals retort to Rajasthan CM's remark

Such a statement was made by the Rajasthan CM on Thursday when he also mentioned that the private hospitals work with commercial objectives. CM Gehlot mentioned that such hospitals should have a humanitarian approach, adds PTI.

The Chief Minister's remarks were vehemently opposed by the United Private Clinics and Hospitals Association of Rajasthan (UPCHAR). Issuing a Press Release in this regard, the Association referred to the Chief Minister's Statement and stated that the private hospitals of the State are hurt by the same. The association mentioned that this kind of statements might have adverse effect on the doctor-patient relationship.

Not only this, but the association also referred to several facts related to the condition of healthcare in Rajasthan and compared the cost of treatment in the private and government hospitals.

Clarifying that the public should not have confusion regarding the matter, the association pointed out the following factors regarding the condition of health facilities in the State:

1. As per the association, the private hospitals in Rajasthan provide the public with cheap and quality healthcare and this trend will continue in the future as well. UPCHAR also pointed out that just like other facilities such as electricity and petrol, the cost of health facilities also depend on several factors which are controlled by the government.

2. Further, drawing a comparison with other states, UPCHAR pointed out that fire safety, biochemical waste fees are lower in other states. For instance, in Haryana 50-bed private hospitals do not fall under the Clinical Establishment Act, whereas in Rajasthan the rules are totally opposite.

3. The association also claimed that there is major corruption in the process of collecting licence fees from the private hospitals.

4. Mentioning that the government is almost always late to pay the subsidy amounts for several schemes and government rates, the association mentioned in the release that despite delayed payment, the private hospitals in Rajasthan are connected with several low package rates and other government plans.

5. The release also mentioned that in all the government schemes, the packages have been kept same for the government and private hospitals. However, in case of government hospitals, the taxpayers bear the cost, whereas in case of the private hospitals they have to take care of the expenses.

6. The association also mentioned that the private hospitals had opposed some points of right to health bill. The hospitals had demanded that the government should pay subsidies for the emergency facilities provided by them to the patients. However the government wanted to get rid of its responsibilities by burdening the private hospitals with the same.

7. Referring to the attitude of government regarding the private hospitals, the release mentioned that the hotels in Rajasthan get electricity by Industrial rates whereas the Hospitals get it in Commercial rates. With this comparison, the association mentioned that apparently for the government, hotels are more important than hospitals.

8. UPCHAR also pointed out that the medical education fees is highest in the government medical colleges of Rajasthan among the country. It also mentioned that in the last thirty years medical fees have increased by 400 percent whereas the expenses for treatment of patients have increased only by five to ten percent. This is really low when compared to the price hike, claimed the association.

9. The association claimed that after independence, the private hospitals in the State have offered all kinds of health facilities to people without any government help whereas it was the government's responsibility to make them available to people

Even in smaller areas, people got access to secondary level world class treatment in the private hospitals in exchange of very low cost. This kind of treatment is not available in the district hospitals and medical colleges, mentioned the release.

10. As the representative of the private hospitals in Rajasthan, UPCHAR demanded from the state to inform the public honestly how much money is spent for treatment of each patients in the government hospitals.

The association claimed that the public will only get the proper information when the treatment cost in both the private and government hospitals will be compared. The release claimed that the treatment is cheaper in private hospitals. However, in case of private hospitals, the patients need to meet all the expenses whereas in the government hospitals the taxpayers bear the expenses

The concerned statement had been made by the Rajasthan CM on Thursday when he was addressing the complaints about the hygiene condition at the state government hospitals.

Addressing a meeting of principals of medical colleges and officials of the state government, the chief minister said his key focus is on the medical and health sectors. He also directed the authorities to ensure cleanliness and improve existing facilities.