Authorities impose fine of 8.9 mln USD on five hospitals in India's capital

The local government in India's capital city of New Delhi has imposed a fine of 8.9 million U.S. dollars on five private hospitals for refusing to provide free medical treatment to the poor, officials said Monday.

"The Delhi government has asked five private hospitals to deposit unwarranted profits of over INR 600 crore (8.9 million U.S. dollars) for refusing free treatment to the poor," an government official said. "The hospitals have failed to abide by the main conditions of land lease laid down by the government while issuing land to them on concessional rates."

According to officials, these hospitals - Max Super Specialty Hospital (Saket), Fortis Escorts Heart Institute, Shanti Mukand Hospital, Dharamshila Cancer Hospital and Pushpawatib Singhania Research Institute were provided lands at concessional rates by the local government on the condition that they would provide free medical care to poor people.

The hospitals have been asked to pay the fine amount by July 9, failing which government would initiate further action against them.

Reports said at least 43 private hospitals in New Delhi were allotted land at concessional rates on the condition that they would keep 10 percent of their in-patient department capacity and 25 percent of out-patient department capacity open to treat economically weaker sections. Endit