The Supreme Court of India has taken a stern stance on the alleged non-compliance of a lease agreement by Indraprastha Apollo Hospital in New Delhi. The hospital, run by Indraprastha Medical Corporation Limited (IMCL), was to provide free medical and other facilities to one-third of its indoor poor patients and 40% of its outdoor patients without discrimination, as per the lease agreement. However, the hospital has instead turned into a commercial venture, making it difficult for poor patients to afford treatment.
The Supreme Court bench, comprising Justices Surya Kant and N Kotiswar Singh, has threatened to hand over the hospital to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) if it does not comply with the lease agreement. The bench has observed that the hospital, which was constructed on a 15-acre land in a posh area of Delhi, was to be run on a “no profit and no loss” formula, but has instead become a pure commercial venture.
The hospital’s counsel has argued that the Delhi government, which has a 26% shareholding in the hospital, is equally benefiting from its earnings. However, the bench has expressed its concern, saying that if the Delhi government is earning profit from the hospital instead of taking care of poor patients, it is an unfortunate thing.
The Supreme Court has also sought information on the lease agreement, asking the Centre and the Delhi government to find out whether the agreement has been renewed or not. It has also asked the hospital administration to provide records of the number of poor patients who have received free treatment in the past five years and sought its cooperation with an inspection team.
The court has posted the matter for hearing after four weeks, giving the hospital administration the liberty to file its affidavit, if any. The case is a significant one, as it highlights the need for hospital administrators to prioritize the needs of poor patients and to ensure that they receive timely and necessary medical care.