NEW DELHI: In its new Health Policy 2017, the Central government has mooted a specialised health tribunal, which will only deal with cases pertaining to the segment. With this, the Centre aims to strengthen India’s health sector.
Currently, people aggrieved with denial of treatment, unhygienic facility, medical negligence and delay in treatment cases either approach High Courts, consumer courts or the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC). But due to an overburdened judiciary, such cases take years to get resolved.
Under the Health Policy 2017, a National Health Care Standards Organisation will be created to formulate guidelines and protocols for healthcare. An empowered tribunal for speedy resolution of disputes and complaints will also be established.
A study by Vidhi Centre for Legal Policy titled Grievance Redressal Mechanism in Public Healthcare Establishments earlier this month backs a health tribunal in the country as complaints received by judiciary take years to reach its conclusion.
“Grievance redressal mechanisms at public and private healthcare establishments assume great significance as they present an avenue for enforcing the right to health that bypasses the courts,” the study highlights.
An analysis of complaints from 2005 till March 2016 indicates that on an average, only 10 people seek redressal in 10 years’ time. Denial of treatment, unhygienic facilities and delay of treatment get maximum priority, and in most cases, High Courts mostly hand out directions to defaulting entities.
In consumer courts, the total number of cases across the country averages 17. In case of NHRC, there were 157 complaints over 10 years, and represent the highest number of grievances raised before any other forum.