'Don't hold bodies of patients over pending dues': Himanta warns private hospitals

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said no private hospital will be allowed to hold the body of a patient for more than two hours even if the family fails to clear the bills of treatment.

Calling the practice of private hospitals and nursing homes of keeping bodies of patients for days until families pay pending medical bills "against human dignity," the CM said such actions would no longer be tolerated.

The move will be implemented from August 1. “Today the Assam cabinet has taken a very important decision. Often we hear complaints that various nursing homes have kept the body of a deceased as mortgage for 3-4 days unless the relatives pay the pending dues. This is against human dignity. You can’t hold a body as a hostage,” Sarma said.

The penalties include suspension or cancellation of licence for three to six months, along with a fine of Rs 5 lakh. In case of repeat violations, the institution's license could be permanently cancelled.

If private hospitals hold bodies for over 4 hours for non-payment of dues, relatives of the patient can file complaints with the local police station who will initiate action.

According to PTI, the Assam cabinet has also approved a scheme called Gaja Mitra to try to reduce instances of human-elephant conflict in the state. Under the scheme, elephant habitats will be created at 80 hotspots where plants which are fodder for the pachyderms will be planted to ensure that they don’t raid paddy fields or enter human habitations in search of food.

“We will also create rapid response teams who will try to divert the routes of elephants that enter villages by using non-lethal means. Plants like bamboo and napier grass, which are important food sources of elephants, will be planted in these areas,” he said, adding that more details of the scheme will be announced later by the forest department.