Assam - First State to Guarantee Right to Health - The Sun Rises in the East

Just imagine a scene: An army bus hits a rickshaw puller while taking a wrong U-turn. A young guy in his early thirties (who is on board the rickshaw) is hit badly by that bus. The Army Personnel takes him to a Government Hospital. As expected, he is not provided appropriate treatment and he breathes his last. The Army Personnel could have taken him to a good private hospital, but they didn’t because of fear of too many formalities and above all ‘exorbitant’ cost of treatment.

This actually happened August 2009.

There are lots of such cases. Many a times those who are not able to afford these so called ‘appropriate’ treatment in private hospitals are forced to shift the patient to a Government Hospital waiting for the patient breathe his/her last.

By the way, do Government hospitals deserve to be termed as ‘hospitals’?? Just visit GB Pant Hospital, Lal Bahadur Shashtri Hospital in Delhi once and you will know the answer. They look more like garbage bins).

Anyway this is not what my post is all about. My post is about giving Kudos to the Government of Assam!!

Assam became the first state in India to enact right to health. Wow! Simply unbelievable. Its now mandatory for all hospitals and nursing homes (including the private ones) to provide free treatment for at least first 24 hours to emergency patients. This is path breaking!! This will ensure that emergency patients will not be denied ‘appropriate’ treatment for lack of funds. Great Job!!

Its time that other State Government also enacts similar law immediately.

Kudos to the Health Minister of Assam for presenting the People of Assam with such a Gift before immediately before the Festival of Bihu.

The Sun Rises in the East!!