Delhi High Court
Photo: ANI
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The Delhi High Court on Tuesday said that government hospitals in the national capital should provide medical treatment to citizens regardless of the patient’s place of residence. Hospitals cannot insist on Voter ID.
Justice Pratibha M Singh, while hearing a petition by a resident of Bihar, observed that hospitals cannot deny treatment to those coming from outside. The petition alleged that the city’s state-run Lok Nayak Hospital has provided free MRI test facilities only to Delhi residents. However, the Delhi government assured the court that there was no discrimination on the part of the hospital on the basis of the patient’s place of residence.
There is no record on record to establish that the petitioner was asked to produce his voter ID card, the Delhi government’s counsel said. MRI dates were given as per availability.
July 2024 date given for MRI
On the other hand, the petitioner’s advocate Ashok Aggarwal said, the hospital had given July 2024 date for MRI scan of the petitioner’s knee in a discriminatory manner towards outsiders. The petitioner claimed that people having voter ID cards of Delhi were given quick treatment and outsiders were given longer dates.