The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Hyderabad News : New rules to make corporate hospitals serve the poor

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Wednesday, Nov 21, 2007
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

New rules to make corporate hospitals serve the poor

Special Correspondent

Minister warns of severe action if they violate norms

Customs duty exemption given to 62 hospitals
40 p.c. outpatient services; 10 p.c. beds for poor mooted

HYDERABAD: Medical Education Minister G. Aruna Kumari has said rules and regulations are being framed to make corporate hospitals that received government land, extend concessions to the poor in diagnostic tests and treatment.

Replying to a question, tabled by B. Kamalaker Rao (Congress) in the Legislative Council on Tuesday, the Minister said severe action would be taken against those hospitals for not following these rules once these were announced in a month.

She disclosed that NIMS would be better placed to serve the poor once its extended facility at Bibinagar in Nalgonda district was ready. She said Apollo Hospitals was established on 30 acres of land allotted by the government with the condition that it would set aside 15 per cent of the beds for the poor. She said the hospital had fixed Thursdays (8 a.m. to 5 p.m.) to treat the poor.

Customs duty exemption was allowed to 62 hospitals/institutions in the State on import of foreign equipment with the stipulation that 40 per cent of the outpatient services, including diagnostic tests, would be provided to the poor and 10 per cent of the beds set aside for them.

Home Minister K. Jana Reddy told Dilip Kumar (TRS) that a legislation would be introduced soon to exempt convicts sentenced to less than one year from the jail term and instead, make them do community social service.

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