NHRC's 'Western Region Public Hearing on Right to Healthcare'
The National Human Rights Commission organized a two day Western Region Public Hearing on Right to Healthcare, in collaboration with Jan Swasthya Abhiyan, a network of civil society organizations working on health issues, at Mumbai from the 6th - 7th January, 2016. The States of Maharashtra, Gujarat and Rajasthan were covered during this public hearing. Health officials as well as representatives of several non-governmental organizations from these States attended. Representatives of Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare were also present.
On the opening day, three benches of the Commission, presided over by the Acting Chairperson, Justice Shri Cyriac Joseph and Members, Justice Shri D. Murugesan and Shri S. C. Sinha heard 88 cases out of total 106 cases registered. These included 38 cases from Maharashtra, 30 from Gujarat and 20 from Rajasthan. The remaining 18 cases were from Maharashtra which could not be taken up due to paucity of time. Justice Shri S.R. Bannurmath, Chairperson, Maharashtra State Human Rights Commission was also present during the hearing.
The Commission recommended compensation to the tune of Rs.4,25,000/- in five cases. These involved incidents of amputation of limb due to medical negligence and delay in treatment; mental agony and trauma faced by a woman and child because of a wrong HIV report; taking a patient without his consent to a private hospital by ambulance doctor and denial of right to health caused due to the absence of a doctor at a Public Health Centre.
In three cases, the Commission issued show cause notices to the Government of Rajasthan why monetary relief should not be recommended to be paid to the victims or their next of kin. In a number of cases, the respective State Governments were asked to conduct detailed enquiries. 35 cases were disposed of out of which 23 were either time barred or beyond the jurisdiction of the Commission.
On the second day, presentations were made by the non-governmental organizations on several systemic issues impacting the healthcare causing violation of right to health. These included issues of maternal health and problems with proper implementation of Janani Shishu Suraksha Yojana; occupational healthcare and need for improvement in the Employees' State Insurance Corporation (ESI) Scheme and shortcomings in community monitoring mechanism.
The role of State Medical Councils in protecting and ensuring the rights of patients was also discussed with reference to effective grievance redressal mechanism. A large number of suggestions were received to improve healthcare, which will be examined by the Commission for suitable recommendations to the concerned authorities.
On the opening day, three benches of the Commission, presided over by the Acting Chairperson, Justice Shri Cyriac Joseph and Members, Justice Shri D. Murugesan and Shri S. C. Sinha heard 88 cases out of total 106 cases registered. These included 38 cases from Maharashtra, 30 from Gujarat and 20 from Rajasthan. The remaining 18 cases were from Maharashtra which could not be taken up due to paucity of time. Justice Shri S.R. Bannurmath, Chairperson, Maharashtra State Human Rights Commission was also present during the hearing.
The Commission recommended compensation to the tune of Rs.4,25,000/- in five cases. These involved incidents of amputation of limb due to medical negligence and delay in treatment; mental agony and trauma faced by a woman and child because of a wrong HIV report; taking a patient without his consent to a private hospital by ambulance doctor and denial of right to health caused due to the absence of a doctor at a Public Health Centre.
In three cases, the Commission issued show cause notices to the Government of Rajasthan why monetary relief should not be recommended to be paid to the victims or their next of kin. In a number of cases, the respective State Governments were asked to conduct detailed enquiries. 35 cases were disposed of out of which 23 were either time barred or beyond the jurisdiction of the Commission.
On the second day, presentations were made by the non-governmental organizations on several systemic issues impacting the healthcare causing violation of right to health. These included issues of maternal health and problems with proper implementation of Janani Shishu Suraksha Yojana; occupational healthcare and need for improvement in the Employees' State Insurance Corporation (ESI) Scheme and shortcomings in community monitoring mechanism.
The role of State Medical Councils in protecting and ensuring the rights of patients was also discussed with reference to effective grievance redressal mechanism. A large number of suggestions were received to improve healthcare, which will be examined by the Commission for suitable recommendations to the concerned authorities.