Jharkhand opposition questions new Medical Bill

Ranchi, May 11: Jharkhand's opposition parties on Thursday expressed unhappiness over the new Medical Protection Bill passed by the state cabinet which ensures "protection" of the doctors.

The opposition parties said the bill -- according to which anyone found damaging hospital property will have to pay twice the price of the damaged property -- will neither help the doctors nor patients.

"Only corporate houses running hospitals and nursing homes will be benefited from such a bill. The patients will continue to suffer. The patient's relatives are forced to pay hefty amount by the hospital management. Jharkhand government should bring Patient Protection bill," Supriyo Bhattacharya, Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) General Secretary, told reporters here.

The Jharkhand cabinet on Tuesday approved the Medical Protection Bill 2017 which also has a provision for a three-year jail term for the person who damages hospital property.

Terming the bill as "anti poor", Congress General Secretary Alok Dubey said: "Jharkhand cabinet cleared two proposals on Tuesday, one was medical protection and second was to reduce the open area from 15 to 10 per cent for constructing buildings. Both have been approved to benefit the corporate houses and builders."

"In Jharkhand, the health sector is the worst. Jharkhand money is drained to other states for medical treatment. Such acts will work against poor people," he said.