Assam’s healthcare reforms should inspire other states

With reference to the editorial Interpreter of maladies (Our Take, March 13), the Assam government is right in stating that healthcare should be a ‘right’ of the people.

With reference to the editorial Interpreter of maladies (Our Take, March 13), the Assam government is right in stating that healthcare should be a ‘right’ of the people. It is heartening to know that the state government has tabled a health bill that proposes free treatment to the poor and makes it mandatory for every hospital to provide free healthcare services to patients admitted to the emergency wards for the first day. Expensive treatment in private hospitals, and shortage of doctors and inadequate facilities in public hospitals, affect the poor the most. It is imperative that every state follows the Assam example and comes up with its version of the Assam Public Health Bill 2010.

HT Image