The Rajasthan Assembly on Tuesday passed a measure granting individuals the right to free emergency care at government hospitals and privately-run facilities despite ongoing protests from private physicians.
By voice voting, the Rajasthan Right to Health Bill, 2022 was approved.
Every resident of Rajasthan has the right to emergency treatment and care from any public health institution, healthcare facility, or authorised health care centre “without prepayment of the appropriate fee or charges,” according to the statute.
If a patient does not pay the necessary fees after receiving emergency care, stabilisation, and referral, the government will pay the healthcare provider.
Parsardi Lal Meena, the health minister, responded during a debate by stating that the measure protects the public’s interests.
In response to the protests of private physicians, the minister stated that all recommendations in the report of the select committee, including those from the physicians, have been accepted.
“The doctors are agitating despite their suggestions being accepted. This is not justified. They are demanding withdrawal of the bill, is it justified?” he asked.
After his reply, the House passed the bill by voice vote.
The bill was introduced in September but sent to the select committee. The committee submitted its report and the bill was amended accordingly. The amended bill was passed on Tuesday.
The doctors were protesting against the Right to Health Bill as they tried to march towards the State Assembly, where it was scheduled to be discussed on Tuesday.
Police used water cannons to disperse private doctors protesting against the Right to Health Bill as they tried to march towards the state assembly, where it was scheduled to be discussed on Tuesday.
The Right to Health bill, listed for discussion and passage in the Assembly, seeks to give the residents of the state the right to avail free healthcare services from hospitals and clinics, including private establishments.