Delhi government yet to recover Rs 600 cr fine from 5 private hospitals

The Delhi government is still struggling to recover the fine of Rs 600 crores from five private hospitals in the capital. The special committee, appointed to look into the affairs of the hospitals as per a Delhi High Court order of 2007, had imposed a fine of over Rs 32 crore on Max, Rs 36.30 on Shanti Mukand, Rs 10.6 on Pushpawati Singhania, over Rs 100 crore on Fortis and Rs 17.86 crore on Dharamshila.

The hospitals were supposed to submit the fine by end of June. However, four of them again knocked the doors of Delhi High Court requesting to intervene in the matter.

"The court had told two of them to pay a certain amount of fine, while we were told to look into the queries of the other two hospitals. The matter is pending as of now," said a senior Delhi government official.

The AAP-led government, in 2016, had slapped the fine on five hospitals - Max Super Specialty Hospital (Saket), Fortis Escorts Heart Institute, Shanti Mukand Hospital, Dharamshila Cancer Hospital and Pushpawati Singhania Research Institute. These hospitals were provided land at concessional rates between 1960 and 1990 on the condition that they will treat the poor free of cost.

A three-member committee comprising of Principal Secretary (Health), Deputy Secretary (Finance) and the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) was formed that analysed the documents submitted by the hospitals. The committee in May had rejected the hospitals plea to forego the amount, saying there was no violation on the government's part.

According to the government rules, 10 per cent of all patients admitted to private hospitals must be poor and treated free of cost if the institute has been given subsidised land.

In addition, 25 per cent of all out-patient services must cater to poor people without charge. A total of 43 private hospitals in Delhi were allotted land at concessional rates, but only on the condition of following the set rules.

PANEL'S VERDICT

A 3-member committee comprising of Principal Secretary (Health), Deputy Secretary (Finance) and the Directorate General of Health Services was formed that analysed the documents submitted by the hospitals.  The panel had rejected the hospitals plea to forego the amount, saying there was no violation by government