No more turning away patients in an emergency

State government to introduce new law to ensure no private hospital refuses admission in case of accidents, natural calamities or terror attacks

SANTOSH ANDHALE

 The state government plans to introduce a new law on emergency medical services, that will make it mandatory for all private hospitals to treat patients in case of accidents, natural calamities and terror attacks.
    Government agencies, particularly the police, often complain that private hospitals do not admit patients during emergencies to avoid legal issues. This often results in victims being moved to government hospitals, though they are illequipped and short staffed. At times, hospitals also refuse patients as the disbursal of funds from the government is rather slow.
    "We discussed the new law called Emergency Medical Services Act, which will make it mandatory for private hospitals to admit victims of natural calamities, terror attacks and disasters. A bill for the law will be introduced in the next session of the legislature," Bhushan Gagrani, secretary for medical education, told Mumbai Mirror.
    The new bill will make provisions for punishment and penalties for hospitals that do not abide by the directives on treatment of patients, he said.
    Gagrani said that other issues like having well maintained and equipped ambulances available round the clock, were also were discussed.
    The government also wants hospitals to appoint paramedics who will be trained to treat a patient before he reaches hospital. "After
HSC, we plan to introduce a two to three-year certificate course for paramedics. We will meet hospital authorities again next week to discuss these issues," said Dr Sanjay Oak, director of medical education, BMC and dean of KEM Hospital.
    "The concept of having emergency medical services is basically to save a patient's life. In an emergency, a patient should get treatment at the site, and during transportation to the nearest hospital his condition should be stabilised as far as possible. Most private hospitals have agreed be part of this project, which is very necessary in a city like Mumbai," said Dr Gustad Davar, surgeon and medical director, Hinduja Hospital.

Firemen help an injured man to safety. Govt agencies often complain private hospitals do not admit patients during emergencies to avoid legal issues