- Rajasthan became the first-ever state to pass the Right to Health Bill in the Assembly which now gives every resident of the state a right to avail of free Out Patient Department (OPD) services and In-Patient Department (IPD) services at all public healthcare facilities.
- Additionally, similar healthcare services in this would be provided free of cost at select private facilities.
- The bill was passed despite protests by the BJP and a section of doctors – while the former stated that wanted to introduce change to the provisions, the latter demanded the withdrawal of the legislation.
- According to the bill’s provisions, every resident will have the right to emergency treatment and care “without prepayment” at any “public health institution, health care establishment and designated health care centers”.
- The government will reimburse the health care provider if a patient does not pay the charges after emergency care, stabilization, and referral.
- A patient, during emergency treatment such as for accidents, emergencies due to snake or animal bite, and any other, as decided by the State Health Authority, will be treated without prepayment by public health institutions, health care establishments, and designated health care centers qualified to provide such care or treatment accordantly to their level of health care.
Rajasthan became the first-ever state to pass the Right to Health Bill
