Timely medical attention could become the difference maker between life and death, especially in cases of road accidents. But in a lot of cases, the hospitals do turn away the critically injured victims, citing various reasons and technicalities, which could even lead to them losing life without getting proper treatment.?
Now the Delhi Government has warned private hospitals in the national capital against refusing treatment to victims of road accidents, acid attack, and fires.?
BCCL
Speaking to representatives, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said that punitive action including cancelation of the license will be taken against hospitals failing to do so.?
¡°It is said that the first hour is extremely critical for accident and burn injury victims and if medical help is provided to them during this time, their lives can be saved. The Delhi government had implemented this scheme keeping in mind this fact,¡± Kejriwal said
He also stated that the government had initiated a scheme to provide free treatment to victims of accidents, burns and acid attacks in private hospitals since February last year and that should be implemented. The scheme has reportedly helped save the lives of 2,501 victims till April this year.
BCCL
The Delhi CM also pointed out previous Supreme Court and Delhi High Court orders which made it mandatory that accident and burn injury victims be provided free treatment at the first available hospital.
The meeting was attended by representatives of over 150 private hospitals with more than 30 beds operating in the city.?
Despite the free treatment scheme where the government reimburses the treatment expenses to the hospitals being available for more than 14 months, Kejriwal said the government has received multiple complaints against hospitals refusing to comply with it.
¡°Delhi government is bearing the entire cost of treatment of accident and burn injuries victims under its scheme and there should be no complaint in this regard. I am happy that all the hospitals assured us that they will not refuse to treat any such victim,¡± Kejriwal said after the meeting.
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The Delhi Government had also launched a 'Good Samaritan scheme' where those helping to take road accident victims to hospital will be offered a reward of Rs 2,000 as a goodwill gesture.?
According to the data by Delhi Traffic Police, as many as 1,604 persons were killed and 5,831 persons were injured in road accidents in 2018.