Latest: Rajasthan Assembly Passes Right to Health Bill

The highly discussed "Right to Health Bill" passed in the State Assembly today after the State's Health Minister described its elements, in spite of the continuous protests from the entire medical community in the State.

The Rajasthan Legislative Assembly passed the Bill by voice vote despite opposition from private hospital doctors and resident doctors from medical colleges at the Statue Circle near the Legislature.

In pleading with the doctors to end their strike and return to work for the benefit of the public, the health minister made the request. The Minister stated, "The bill has only been passed after the select committee accepted all the proposals offered by the doctors," and he invited them to meet with him at any time because his doors are always open.

Since a few months ago, doctors who work in private hospitals in Rajasthan have been demonstrating against the "Right to Health" bill that has been proposed. While the Rajasthan Government proposed the Law to ensure that citizens of the State may receive care at any hospital, it infuriated the medical community in the State since they viewed it as being harsh and unreasonable. The Private Hospitals and Nursing Homes Society (PHNHS) and Jaipur Medical Association, which represents doctors, have called attention to a number of clauses in the law because they feel that it is unclear and seeks to limit the authority of physicians.

Whats is Right to Health Bill in simple words ?

Doctors have particularly opposed to the articles in the Bill that demand that patients receive free treatment for any medical emergencies at both private and public hospitals. The Bill is intended to protect people' rights to access high-quality healthcare. The medical professionals emphasized that the State has not specified what constitutes an emergency or how the cost of such medical bills will be paid back to the private hospitals and doctors.

In addition, a specific clause of the bill that calls for the establishment of a separate grievance redressal body to handle patient complaints has been rejected by the medical professionals affiliated with the Indian Medical Association (IMA) branch in Jaipur.

On Monday, the doctors had made the decision to march toward the State Assembly. The doctors attempted to enter the assembly, where the bill was to be introduced, but police prevented them by using force and lathi charges. The whole medical community was outraged by this. The president of the Jaipur Medical Association previously told Medical Dialogues that government doctors had also chosen to back the protesting physicians, and that additional decisions will be made following a meeting of the government physicians.

For the first time in history, a complete shutdown of medical services has been called for by the state's entire medical community, including residents and doctors from government medical colleges.

In the midst of this, the Right to Health Bill was approved by the Assembly. When asked about this by First India News, State Health Minister Parsadi Lal Meena stated, "Our CM has delivered the Right to Health Bill to the people of the State. Ashok Gehlot ji is the first chief minister to follow through on his promises, and Rajasthan is the first State in the entire nation and in all of Asia. People can now receive treatment at any hospital. The Rajasthani government has passed a significant law. The Bill was approved by a unanimous vote, which is unprecedented.

"We have spoken with all the organizations and the doctors on the Select Committee. The few items that drew criticism were clarified as being added to the Rules rather than the Act. Any Government may change the laws at any time, he continued.

He further added that hospitals that violate the Act will face punishment from the State. He continued, "The hospital will undoubtedly be required to abide by the rules strictly, and we will take action against those who will not comply."

The previous president of JARD, Dr. Amit Yadav, remarked in response to the current development of the Bill being approved by the Assembly, "Our indefinite complete shutdown will continue. 

Bills can be reverted as the Krishi Kanoon also was withdrawn after protest. We will be on complete strike till this bill gets reconsidered or reverted."