NEW DELHI: Members of the All-India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) for Social Consciousness have expressed shock at what they are calling the `lack of sensitivity' of the hospital authority.

According to senior faculty at the Institute, the hospital administration has turned a deaf ear to the overwhelming public opinion that wants immediate withdrawal of the recently imposed hike in user charges.

"The recent circular on user charges detailing out the specifics of exempting them for the poor was a shock for all those who had felt that AIIMS would be sensitive. It also went contrary to the assurances given by the Health Minister that no poor patient would be denied free treatment. The first blow came from the criteria of using a Below Poverty Line (BPL) card for identifying a poor patient who would be denied free treatment. The basic premise of this is flawed because the BPL norms were calculated according to minimum caloric needs and not out of pocket expenditure on health. When BPL norms were determined, the assumption was that the government would take care of the basic health needs of the people as a consequences of the fundamental right to life," said a member AIIMS for Social Consciousness.

`No advertisements'

"We are also concerned about the fact that no advertisements have been made in national and provincial newspapers on the sudden essentiality of obtaining a BPL card or income certificate from a suitable authority so that the patient is aware before he sets off on a long train journey to the Institute," added a senior faculty member.

Demanding an immediate revocation of user charges, senior faculty members have maintained that this "impediment to `right to life' should be immediately scrapped".

Questioning the order that directs the head of departments and their superiors to exempt charges up to Rs. 500 only, faculty members said, "Why should our decision need verification from anyone who is far less aware of the real condition of the patient? A number of critical investigations cost more than Rs. 500 and the delay can cost the patient's life," noted a release issued by the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) for Social Consciousness.

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