Don’t politicise healthcare: HC

The Seven Hills Healthcare Private Limited (SHHPL) had moved the Bombay High Court contesting notices issued by the BMC asking them to vacate the seven-acre premises allotted to them to run the multi-speciality hospital.

The corporation’s lawyers Ashutosh Kumbhakoni and Preeti Purandare argued that the SHHPL should act strictly in accordance with the tender conditions and reserve 20 per cent of the beds for poor patients as well as provide medicines free or at concessional rates. Kumbhakoni suggested that the hospital could have a gift shop,like in municipal hospitals,where medicines could be provided at discounted rates.

An affidavit filed by Sanjay Oak,director (medical education and major hospitals),stated that in the past two years,30 meetings were held between corporation officers and the SHHPL in which the BMC’s scheduled and non-scheduled drugs (those provided free or at concessional rates) were explained to the latter. However,the SHHPL had refused to co-operate,the affidavit claimed.

Arguing for SHHPL,its counsel Abhishek Manu Singhvi said the corporation is targeting his client because the hospital was inaugurated by the President Pratibha Patil. “Everyone knows that the civic body is being governed by one political party and another party is the government.”

The court,however,said,“Human life is the same. There are many fields which should be kept away from politics and the medical field is one of them.”

Singhvi said the hospital was ready to reserve 20 per cent beds for the poor,but the corporation could not expect them to provide free medicines and consumables.

The court,however,observed that prima facie the hospital was meeting the conditions prescribed in the memorandum of understanding between the parties. Asking SHHPL to file an affidavit,the court adjourned the case for a week.