Rajasthan doctors hold massive rally against Right to Health Act

The rally was attended by medical professionals, their family members as well as medical store owners from across the state which started from the Sawai Man Singh (SMS) Hospital and passed through several parts of the city.

The Indian Medical Association (IMA) had earlier called for a nationwide black day against the contentious law. 

Doctors across the state, including IMA's Rajasthan chapter, have been protesting against the Act, that gives rights to every resident to avail free of cost treatment along with ‘emergency treatment’ without prepayment at any health institution in the state.

Doctors stage a protest against the Rajasthan Right to Health Act, at Panch Batti in Jaipur.(PTI)

The Act allows patients to avail free treatment at public health institution which further bars any hospital to refuse treatment.

It also has provision to avail ‘emergency treatment’ at public health institution, health care establishment and designated health care centres without a prepayment.

Healthcare professionals have been objecting certain clauses where the term ‘medical emergency’ has not been defined clearly and asked how the expenses will be reimbursed to private hospitals.

They have also raised concerns over setting up of a grievance redressal committee to address patients' complaints.

As a result of the ongoing protest, medical services in government hospitals across the state have been impacted. Doctors have boycotted work for two hours today in solidarity with the private doctors.