Government to identify poor patients at Apollo Hospital

The city government on Tuesday told the Delhi High Court that it would appoint two officers to identify poor patients approaching the privately-run Apollo Hospital for treatment.

The city government on Tuesday told the Delhi High Court that it would appoint two officers to identify poor patients approaching the privately-run Apollo Hospital for treatment.

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The counsel for the Delhi government informed the court when asked how the government would decide if a patient is poor.

The court was hearing a petition filed by a non-governmental organisation (NGO) seeking action against Apollo Hospital for charging poor patients for treatment, in contravention of the lease agreement for land allotted to it by the government at concessional rates.

A division bench headed by Chief Justice Ajit Prakash Shah and Justice Manmohan asked Apollo Hospital to explain the criteria under which it identifies poor patients and how much they were charging them for treatment.

In reply, Apollo Hospital said it is a profit-oriented venture and that poor patients have to bear the cost of medicines.

The court asked the government and Apollo Hospital to prepare a detailed report on the amount it charges from poor patients and regular patients.