HC asks Centre, AAP govt to streamline process of availing facilities under health welfare schemes
Delhi High Court has asked the Centre and the AAP government to streamline the process for availing medical facilities under various health welfare schemes, while taking note of the constraints faced by people from economically weaker sections wanting to enjoy such benefits. The high court constituted a seven-member committee headed by Delhi chief secretary to iron out the defects in the current system.
«The procedure required for availing free medical treatment must be streamlined, including various surgeries, as well as surgeries for implants/devices and to put in place a single-window mechanism with designated nodal officers at each hospital in Delhi,» a bench of Chief Justice Satish Chandra Sharma and Justice Sanjeev Narula said.
The court noted the Delhi government has formulated Delhi Arogya Kosh and Delhi Arogya Nidhi schemes, and these initiatives are complemented by ancillary programmes aimed at providing medical services to the residents of the city.
Similarly, the central government has launched schemes like the Rashtriya Arogya Nidhi and the Health Minister's Discretionary Grant.
«Nonetheless, we have been apprised of the constraints faced by individuals from economically weaker sections (EWS) when attempting to avail benefits of the scheme.
These constraints manifest at various stages: during treatment, submission of applications for financial assistance, procurement of quotations concerning implants, procedure for disbursing amounts, and finally, while undergoing medical procedures including surgeries,» the bench said.
Advocate T Singhdev, who was appointed amicus curiae in the case to assist the court, submitted a memorandum encapsulating the problems faced by indigent patients striving to secure
