Ordering an inquiry into the withholding of information on beds reserved for the poor in private hospitals, Information Commissioner Sridhar Acharyulu slapped a fine of Rs 25,000 on the public information officials of the health department -- RN Das and Lily Gangmei.
Delhi High Court had in 2007 ruled that private hospitals to whom land was allotted by DDA and Delhi government at concessional rates are to provide free treatment on 10 per cent of total Indoor beds and on 25 per cent of total OPD patients to patients from the Economically Weaker Section category whose total monthly family income was less than Rs 4.000.
"Under Section 18(2), the Commission is satisfied that there are reasonable grounds to inquire into this matter," he said in the order.
In his stern order, Acharyulu further said he sees no ray of hope for the implementation of the order in the near future.
He said that the Health Department should serve the health needs of the poor and not the profit-generating private hospitals, which are breaching the conditions regarding serving the poor.