Noida show-cause to all private hospitals on ‘social obligations’ after BJP MLA’s letter

Noida: The chief medical officer of Gautam Budh Nagar has issued show-cause notices to all private hospitals in Noida and Greater Noida, asking them to explain if they had fulfilled their ‘social obligations’ towards local residents during the peak of the pandemic.
The moves followed a letter the ruling party MLA from Jewar constituency, Dhirendra Singh, wrote to chief minister Yogi Adityanath on May 19.In the letter, Singh underlined various issues faced by people who had been seeking treatment in private hospitals in the district. He also stated he had received several complaints of patients about overcharging.
He also asked Yogi to carry out an audit and find out if any hospital in the district had provided treatment to any individual who makes less than Rs 6,000 a month. “Private hospitals also need to fulfil their social responsibilities towards the local population under the CSR initiative. Those who have done so need to be lauded and others have to be questioned. I appeal to the administration and health department to extend the period and audit the books of the hospitals to see whether they have given treatment to even a single poor individual through the year under CSR policy as mandated by the ministry of corporate affairs,” said Singh.
The show-cause notices evoked a strong response from the Indian Medical Association (Noida chapter). Its general secretary Mohita Sharma said, “Private hospitals and doctors have shouldered 80% of the patient load in the district. At this juncture, when their efforts need to be acknowledged, such letters by public representatives are only hurting our morale. We have also written to the Prime Minister and UP chief minister, demanding action against the Jewar MLA.”
Gautam Budh Nagar chief medical officer Deepak Ohri said, “Hospitals have been asked to respond to the charges of the elected representative of the district. We will decide the next course of action on Monday after going through their responses.”