105 Mumbaikars benefitted from special patients fund since Jan

Special cell set up to monitor Indigent Patient Fund scheme resulted in more individuals gaining advantage

The Maharashtra government's newly-established Special Patients' Help Cell's close monitoring of the Indigent Patient Fund (IPF) scheme has resulted in 105 individuals from the city and 258 across the state availing of the benefit, as opposed to earlier when there were only a handful of bed allotments at charitable hospitals, according to the official heading the cell established in January.

The data provided by the department suggests that a total of Rs 11.76 crore was spent by charitable hospitals across the state in treating indigent patients. According to the Bombay Public Trusts (BPT) Act, 1950, charitable trusts operating hospitals, nursing homes, or maternity homes are required to contribute 2 per cent of their income to IPF. Additionally, 10 per cent of a charitable hospital's total operational beds are reserved for indigent patients for free treatment. Another 10 per cent of such a hospital's total operational beds are provided at a concessional rate for other economically weaker sections.

“A comparative study of the various schemes of the central government as well as the state government shows that this particular initiative has no limit on the cost of treatment. Expensive surgeries such as for cancer, liver transplants, and heart transplants can be provided to poor patients through this scheme,” said Rameshwar Naik, who heads the cell.

He added, “The problem is that the hospitals are notorious for flouting the norm.” This has been the case since the scheme's establishment in 2006. In January, a week prior to the formation of the special cell, mid-day had flagged how hospitals attempt to evade extending the benefits under this scheme to patients. As a result, families turn to local politicians for help, who in turn market this scheme as their own.

One only needs a ration card or a tehsildar's certificate to avail of this scheme. However, patients have earlier told mid-day how hospitals take a heavy-handed approach where people are quizzed for hours in times of emergencies despite furnishing the required documents. “We are working on raising awareness among citizens as well, and a helpline number will be created within a week. Hospital staff have been freshly trained in the last few months and there is more vigilance from our side,” Naik said.

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